With bipartisan support in 2022, the Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act pledged compensation for veterans exposed to toxic substances like burn pits and hazardous chemicals. Two years later, the act was cited for contributing to a historic budget shortfall with the Department of Veterans Affairs.
With millions of veterans’ benefits at risk, Congress has been compelled to take action.
Most recently, according to a February 5 press release from the office of Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), “[Legislation is being offered] to establish greater accountability and oversight of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) after a stunning multi-billion-dollar budget shortfall in 2024 followed by a multi-billion-dollar surplus two months later.”
The member of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee (SVAC) and 10 additional senators introduced the Protecting Regular Order (PRO) for Veterans Act to address the “budget debacle.”
As noted by the press release, “The Pro VETS Act will institute a three-year requirement for the VA to provide quarterly, in-person budget reports to Congress to encourage greater oversight and financial accountability, and also withhold bonuses for senior VA and Office of Management and Budget (OMB) personnel if there are future financial shortfalls.”
In an attempt to deflect blame away from mismanagement last year, the agency was quick to cite the PACT Act as the key driver of the budget shortfall. VA Press Secretary Terrence Hayes said, “Right now, due in large part to the historic PACT Act, VA is delivering more care and more benefits to more veterans than ever before.”
For many veterans, like Fleeman and Navy veteran Dr. Crisanna Shackelford, accountability and transparency are required of an agency running itself into the ground.
Hellbound and Down 