Logan Reid
The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) is the largest integrated healthcare system in the United States, providing care at 1,380 healthcare facilities, including 170 VA Medical Centers and 1,193 outpatient sites. The VHA is the component of the United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) that implements the VA's healthcare program through a nationalized healthcare service, providing healthcare and healthcare-adjacent services to veterans. The VA has an annual budget of approximately $68 billion, with a request for $441.3 billion in the 2026 fiscal year, a 10% increase from 2025.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Annual budget | $68 billion |
| Number of employees | 350,000+ |
| Number of health care professionals and support staff | 371,000+ |
| Number of health care facilities | 1,380 |
| Number of VA Medical Centers (VAMC) | 170 |
| Number of outpatient sites of care (VHA outpatient clinics) | 1,193 |
| Number of Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOC) | 772 |
| Number of VA Community Living Centers (VA Nursing Homes) | 134 |
| Number of Veterans Integrated Service Networks (VISNs) | 18 |
| FY 2026 budget | $441.3 billion |
| FY 2026 discretionary funding | $125 billion |
| FY 2026 mandatory funding | $301.2 billion |
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What You'll Learn
The VA's annual budget is approximately $68 billion
The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) is the US Department of Veterans Affairs' (VA) largest division, employing over 350,000 people. The VA's annual budget is approximately $68 billion. In 2023, spending on medical care for veterans was $125.5 billion, an 83% increase from $68.4 billion in 2013. The VA's budget comes from discretionary funding and mandatory funding.
The VA's budget covers health care, benefits, and national cemeteries. The VA provides healthcare and healthcare-adjacent services to veterans through its administration and operation of VA medical centres, outpatient clinics, and community living centres. The VA's budget also includes compensation and pensions, readjustment benefits, housing, and insurance.
The VA's budget is formulated, executed, analysed, justified, and prepared by the Office of Budget, which works closely with the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and Congressional appropriations committees. The Office of Budget ensures that budget requests are technically accurate, performance-based, and focused on improving the veteran experience.
The VA's budget has seen an overall increase over the years. For example, in 2026, the VA requested a total budget of $441.3 billion, a 10% increase from the previous year. This increase in the budget is likely due to the aging veteran population, which has resulted in an increase in the cost of their care due to long-term care needs and complex health challenges.
The VA's budget is an essential aspect of its functioning, allowing it to provide healthcare and other benefits to veterans across the United States. The VA's budget request for 2026 demonstrates its commitment to improving services and addressing the needs of the aging veteran population.
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The VA requested a total of $441.3 billion in FY 2026
The US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has requested a total budget of $441.3 billion for the 2026 fiscal year, a 10% increase from the 2025 fiscal year. This budget includes $125 billion in discretionary funding for healthcare, benefits, and national cemeteries. The budget also includes $301.2 billion in mandatory funding, a $34.2 billion increase from 2025, for benefit programs such as Compensation and Pensions, Readjustment Benefits, Housing and Insurance, and continued funding for the Toxic Exposures Fund.
The Toxic Exposures Fund was created under the PACT Act of 2022 and provides service-connected disability payments and health coverage for veterans exposed to toxic substances during their military service, including pollution from burn pits, radiation, and industrial solvents. The costs of providing services under this fund are projected to be $52.6 billion in 2026.
The 2026 budget request also aims to address critical VA programs such as suicide risks, homelessness, substance abuse, chronic pain, and improving access to rural healthcare. VA Secretary Doug Collins pledged to prioritize these issues, and President Trump has expressed his commitment to balancing the budget while providing necessary funding for caring for veterans and their families.
It is important to note that the VA's budget is formulated, executed, analysed, justified, and prepared by the Office of Budget, which serves as the liaison with the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and Congressional appropriations committees. The Office of Budget ensures that budget requests are technically accurate, performance-based, and focused on improving the veteran experience.
The VA is the largest division of the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, employing over 350,000 employees. It provides healthcare and healthcare-adjacent services to veterans through the administration and operation of 146 VA Medical Centers, 772 Community-Based Outpatient Clinics, and 134 VA Community Living Centers (VA Nursing Homes).
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The VA's budget includes $125 billion in discretionary funding
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is the US government body that implements the healthcare program for veterans. The VA is the largest division in the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, employing over 350,000 people. All VA hospitals, clinics, and medical centres are owned and operated by the Department of Veterans Affairs, and all staff are federal employees. The VA's budget has increased significantly over the years, from $45 billion in 2001 to over $300 billion in 2023. The VA's budget for fiscal year 2026 is $441.3 billion, a 10% increase from 2025. This includes $125 billion in discretionary funding for healthcare, benefits, and national cemeteries. There is also $301.2 billion in mandatory funding, a 12.8% increase from 2025, for benefit programs including compensation and pensions, readjustment benefits, housing and insurance, and continued funding for the Toxic Exposures Fund.
The VA's budget is formulated and executed by the Office of Budget, which also liaises with the Office of Management and Budget and Congressional appropriations committees to defend and promote the Department's program plans and budget estimates. The Office of Budget also works closely with program officials to ensure that budget requests are technically accurate, performance-based, and focused on improving the veteran experience.
The bulk of the increase in the VA's budget for fiscal year 2026 comes from mandatory healthcare and benefits costs. The appropriations bill includes $134 billion in discretionary funding, a 4% increase, but $1 billion less than what the White House requested. Democratic lawmakers objected to the bill due to concerns about the lack of transparency regarding how the money will be spent. VA Secretary Doug Collins has proposed trimming 80,000 jobs from the VA workforce, but the specifics of this proposal are yet to be revealed.
Despite the objections, House Republicans approved plans for a $435.3 billion budget for the VA for fiscal year 2026, a significant funding boost. This represents the first appropriations package approved for the next fiscal year by either chamber of Congress. However, Senate appropriators must still draft and pass their own funding plan, which is expected to take some time.
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The VA's budget includes $301.2 billion in mandatory funding
The US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is requesting a total budget of $441.3 billion for the fiscal year 2026, a 10% increase from the fiscal year 2025. The VA budget includes $301.2 billion in mandatory funding, a 12.8% increase from the previous year. This mandatory funding includes disability compensation, pensions, readjustment funds, and other veteran benefits required by law. The mandatory funding also includes continued funding for the Toxic Exposures Fund, which covers veterans exposed to toxic substances during their military service, such as pollution from burn pits, radiation, and industrial solvents.
The VA budget also includes $125 billion in discretionary funding for health care, benefits, and national cemeteries. The 2026 budget also provides funds to update the VA's online medical records system, making it "interoperable" with the Defense Department, other federal agencies, and private medical offices that accept VA reimbursements and provide care for veterans. The budget for the National Cemetery Administration will also increase from $480 million to $497 million.
The VA budget for 2026 reflects a commitment to balancing the budget while providing necessary funding for critical non-defense discretionary priorities, including caring for veterans, their families, caregivers, and survivors. The budget also includes funding for major construction projects, which will increase by more than $900 million to $1.8 billion. The VA is the second-largest division in the federal government, employing over 350,000 employees, and all VA hospitals, clinics, and medical centers are owned and operated by the Department of Veterans Affairs.
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The VA is the second-largest division in the federal government
The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) is the component of the United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) that implements the healthcare program of the VA. It is the largest division in the department and the second-largest in the entire federal government, employing over 350,000 employees. The VHA operates 1,600 healthcare facilities, including 144 VA medical centres and 1,232 outpatient sites, serving 9 million veterans annually.
The VHA provides healthcare and healthcare-adjacent services to veterans, including routine eye exams, preventive tests, dental care, mental health services, assisted living, and home health care. It also covers inpatient and outpatient care, with all VA hospitals, clinics, and medical centres owned and operated by the Department of Veterans Affairs. The VA's healthcare services are highly regarded, with studies showing that it outperforms Medicare and private sector healthcare providers in several measures of quality.
The VA is a federal government agency that provides benefits, healthcare, and cemetery services to military veterans. It is led by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, a cabinet-level official appointed by the President with the advice and consent of the Senate. The VA employs nearly 371,000 healthcare professionals and support staff across the country, making it the second-largest federal department after the US Department of Defense.
The VA's budget for fiscal year 2026 is $441.3 billion, including $125 billion in discretionary funding for healthcare, benefits, and national cemeteries, as well as $301.2 billion in mandatory funding for benefit programs such as compensation, pensions, housing, and insurance. The VA's mission is to provide health, education, disability, funerary, and financial benefits to veterans and their families.
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Frequently asked questions
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is funded by the federal government. The VA has an annual budget of approximately $68 billion, which is used to provide healthcare and healthcare-adjacent services to veterans.
VA funding covers a range of services, including regular checkups, appointments with specialists (like cardiologists, gynecologists, and mental health providers), home health, geriatric care, medical equipment, prosthetics, and prescriptions. It also covers mental health services for conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression.
The VA's budget varies from year to year. For the 2026 fiscal year, the VA requested a total of $441.3 billion, a 10% increase from the previous year. This included $125 billion in discretionary funding for health care, benefits, and national cemeteries, as well as $301.2 billion in mandatory funding for benefit programs such as compensation, pensions, housing, and insurance.
There are 146 VA Medical Centers (VAMC) with integrated outpatient clinics, 772 Community-Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOC), and 134 VA Community Living Centers (nursing homes). These facilities are owned and operated by the Department of Veterans Affairs and employ over 350,000 federal employees.
