Ernst Works to Hold VA Accountable for Financial Shortfall

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), a combat veteran, is supporting the Protecting Regular Order (PRO) for Veterans Act to hold the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) accountable for a Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) budget shortfall of $3 billion.

This bill would encourage greater oversight and financial accountability by instituting a three-year requirement for the VA to submit quarterly, in-person budget reports to Congress. Additional financial shortfalls would result in withholding bonuses for senior VA and Office of Management and Budget (OMB) personnel.

"Our veterans have served and sacrificed and deserve the benefits they have earned," Ernst said. "Every Iowa family has to manage their household's budget, but the VA refuses to abide by the same rules as hardworking Americans. This is a failure of leadership. I'm taking action to ensure these VA bureaucrats manage taxpayers dollars and veteran benefits more responsibly or else their own paychecks should have to face the consequences, not our nation's heroes."

Background:

Ernst has been a leading advocate for ensuring that veterans receive the benefits they were promised and the quality of care they deserve.

Last month, Ernst called out the Biden-Harris VA for mismanagement of taxpayer dollars and failing to serve veterans.

After the Biden administration reportedly leveraged resources and personnel at the VA to facilitate health care services to illegal aliens in Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention, Ernst fought to ensure that VA funds were preserved for America's veterans. She also joined legislation to prohibit the VA from providing health care or processing claims for anyone unlawfully present in the United States.

Ernst's bipartisan VA MISSION Act that improves veterans' access to health care services was signed into law in 2018. Her bill to support veterans' mental health became law in 2022.

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