crs_reports: R48968

Congressional Research Service reports with summaries, authors, and topic classifications.

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R48968 Department of Veterans Affairs FY2026 Appropriations 2026-06-03T04:00:00Z 2026-06-05T16:23:01Z Active Reports Sidath Viranga Panangala, Jared S. Sussman, Madeline E. Moreno Veterans Affairs (VA) Appropriations, Veterans Disability Compensation & Pensions, Veterans & Military Health Care, Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Veterans Budget & Appropriations The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) administers numerous programs that provide benefits and services to eligible veterans and their families. These benefits include medical care, disability compensation, Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC), pensions, education, vocational rehabilitation and employment services, assistance to homeless veterans, home loan guarantees, and administration of life insurance, as well as traumatic injury protection insurance for servicemembers and benefits that cover burial expenses. President Donald Trump released the FY2026 budget request for VA in several stages during May and June 2025. The Trump Administration requested $434.81 billion for FY2026. This included $300.42 billion in mandatory appropriations and $134.39 billion in discretionary appropriations. On June 25, 2025, the House passed its version of the FY2026 Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies (MILCON-VA) appropriations bill (H.R. 3944; H.Rept. 119-161). The House-passed version would have provided $435.33 billion for VA for FY2026, including $301.57 billion in mandatory funding and $133.75 billion in discretionary funding. On August 1, 2025, the Senate amended the House-passed version of H.R. 3944 and passed the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, Agriculture, and Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 2026 (H.R. 3944, as amended). Division A of the measure contained the FY2026 MILCON-VA appropriations bill (Division A of H.R. 3944). The Senate-passed version of the bill would have provided $434.86 billion for VA for FY2026, including $301.57 billion in mandatory funding and $133.28 billion in discretionary funding. On November 12, 2025, after a 42-day lapse in appropriations from October 1, 2025, through November 11, 2025, the President signed into law the Continuing Appropriations, Agriculture, Legislative Branch, Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, and Extensions Act, 2026 (H.R. 5371; P.L. 119-37). Division D of this act contained the FY2026 MILCON-VA Appropriations Act. Comparative funding levels for FY2025 (Division A of P.L. 119-4) and FY2026 (Division D of P.L. 119-37) are listed in the table below (component amounts may not sum to totals due to rounding and adjustments due to rescissions). FY2025-FY2026 VBA, VHA, NCA, and Veterans Affairs (VA)-Departmental Administration Appropriations FY2025 Enacted (Division A of P.L. 119-4)FY2026 RequestHouse-Passed (H.R. 3944; H.Rept. 119-161) Senate-Passed (Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, Agriculture, and Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 2026; Division A of H.R. 3944; S.Rept. 119-43) FY2026 Enacted (Continuing Appropriations, Agriculture, Legislative Branch, Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, and Extensions Act, 2026; Division D of P.L.119-37) Increase (+)/ Decrease (-) and % Change FY2026 Enacted vs. FY2025 Enacted Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA, including General Operating Expenses) $236.90 billion $251.90 billion $253.05 billion $253.06 billion $263.79 billion (+) $26.89 billion (+11.35%) Veterans Health Administration (VHA) $113.67 billion $116.98 billion $117.47 billion $115.89 billion $116.03 billion (+) $2.36 billion (+2.08%) National Cemetery Administration (NCA) $480 million $497 million $498.50 million $497 million $498.50 million (+) $18.5 million (+3.85%) Departmental Administration $10.65 billion $12.75 billion $11.64 billion $12.74 billion $12.49 billion (+) $1.84 billon (+17.28%) Cost of War Toxic Exposures Fund (TEF) $6 billion $52.68 billion $52.68 billion $52.68 billion $52.68 billion (+) $46.68 billion (+778%) Total VA $367.71 billion $434.81 billion $435.33 billion $434.86 billion $445.49 billion (+) $77.78 billion (+21.15%) Total Mandatory $238.68 billion $300.42 billion $301.57 billion $301.57 billion $312.30 billion (+) $73.62 billion (+30.85%) Total Discretionary $129.03 billion $134.39 billion $133.75 billion $133.28 billion $133.18 billion (+) $4.15 billion (+3.22%) Sources: U.S. Congress, House Appropriations Committee, Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, And Related Agencies Appropriations Bill, 2026, report to accompany H.R. 3944, 119th Cong., 1st sess., June 10, 2025, H.Rept. 119-161, pp. 93-101; U.S. Congress, Senate Appropriations Committee, Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, And Related Agencies Appropriations Bill, 2026, report to accompany H.R. 3944, 119th Cong., 1st sess., July 17, 2025, S.Rept. 119-43, pp. 110-115; and “Explanatory Statement Submitted By Ms. Collins, Chair of The Senate Committee on Appropriations, Regarding H.R. 5371, The Continuing Appropriations, Agriculture, Legislative Branch, Military Construction And Veterans Affairs, And Extensions Act, 2026,” Congressional Record, vol. 171, no. 189 (November 9, 2025), pp. S8109-S8110. https://www.congress.gov/crs_external_products/R/PDF/R48968/R48968.3.pdf https://www.congress.gov/crs_external_products/R/HTML/R48968.html

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