VA Benefit Changes Due To One Big Beautiful Bill

President Donald Trump has been making a lot of changes and trying to pass numerous bills since taking office earlier this year. He has proposed a $453 billion bill for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) in fiscal year 2026. While the bill passed more smoothly in the House, it faces significant hurdles in the Senate, where Democratic resistance and the filibuster rule will demand bipartisan negotiation.

Veterans’ programs have long enjoyed bipartisan support, and former President Trump’s proposed budget upholds that tradition with an $83 billion increase over the previous year, primarily directed toward mandatory medical care and benefits payments. The bill does offer some benefit increases for veterans, but there are also some controversial provisions that could change how certain services are funded. Several attached policy provisions related to reproductive rights, firearm regulations, and vaccine mandates have stirred controversy and may affect access to VA services.

Here are some key budget highlights:

• $83 billion increase in overall VA funding. This is a 22% increase, largely for medical care and disability benefits.
• 4% rise in discretionary funding, bringing the total to about $134 billion.
• $2.5 billion allocated for the VA’s Electronic Health Record Modernization initiative. This is double last year’s amount but $1 billion below the administration’s request.
• $18 billion in military construction funding, including $830 million for child development centers and barracks upgrades.

Some benefits of the bill include:

• Tax cuts and exemptions that could benefit veterans, particularly small business owners.
• Relief to veterans who own small businesses.
• Ensuring veterans have access to Medicaid.
• Provisions to protect SNAP benefits for veterans.

Some of the most controversial policy provisions include the following:

• Prohibiting abortion services and counseling at VA facilities, except when the mother’s life is at risk
• Ending mandatory COVID-19 vaccinations for VA healthcare staff
• Limiting the VA’s ability to report veterans deemed financially incompetent to the national gun background check system

Also, it’s important to know that some sections of the bill aim to address issues like waste and fraud in the Affordable Care Act (ACA) exchanges, which could potentially affect veterans’ access to healthcare through the ACA.

Political response is split. Democrats, including Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz of Florida, slammed the bill’s policy provisions. She argued it “needlessly fixates on keeping guns in the hands of those who may be a danger to themselves or others and restricts reproductive rights.”

In contrast, House Appropriations Chair Rep. Tom Cole defended the measure, saying it “honors our commitment to those who’ve worn America’s uniform” and ensures national defense priorities are met.

Learn More About Veterans Benefits

It’s important for veterans to get the benefits they are entitled to receive. Veterans currently have many benefits but President Trump’s bills and policies may include some cuts, issues with access, and other restrictions.

A White Plains veterans disability benefits lawyer from The Law Office of Michael Lawrence Varon can help you with your claims for benefits. You don’t pay unless we recover on your behalf. Schedule a consultation today by filling out the online form or calling 914-294-2145.

Source:

newsweek.com/how-veterans-benefits-impacted-trump-tax-bill-2081898