DEPARTMENT OF
VETERANS AFFAIRS
Budget $97.7B
Employees 427,172
Year Established 1989
The Department of Veterans Affairs serves to honor the men and women who have served in our nations armed forces and to assist veterans and their families. At its core, the VA is a military veterans benefits program. The VA was formally established in 1989, however the roll that the Department of Veterans Affairs serves has been around for much longer. After the American Revolutionary War pensions were provided to soldiers who were wounded. In 1834, the first federally owned and operated hospital for veterans was formed. Today the benefits program has been expanded to assist not just veterans but also their families.
VHA is the nation's largest provider of graduate medical education and a major contributor to medical and scientific research.
The Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) provides a variety of benefits and services to Service members, Veterans, and their families.
To serve veterans and the public by conducting meaningful independent oversight of the Department of Veterans Affairs by performing audits, inspections, investigations, and reviews that improve the efficiency, effectiveness, and integrity of the Department of Veterans Affairs’ programs and services
Every Member of Congress represents Veterans, survivors and caregivers and has a VA-presence in their district and state. The Office of Congressional and Legislative Affairs is the central point in for the Department on all matters involving the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate and is the chief liaison on all engagement and interaction with Members of Congress, Committees of jurisdiction, and their offices as well as maintaining responsive and effective communications. With offices located both at the Department’s central office and on Capitol Hill, this webpage is an online tool to share resources with Congressional partners on areas of interest within the Department and ensure accessibility of information to connect with a member of the team.
The OWCP administers four major disability compensation programs that provide wage replacement benefits, medical treatment, vocational rehabilitation and other benefits to certain workers or their dependents who experience work-related injury or occupational disease.
Intergovernmental Affairs is responsible for all relations between VA and international, state, county, municipal and tribal governments. The primary function of the office is to provide strategic advice, guidance and information about VA to foster and enhance government partnerships. Acts as the liaison between VA and the White House to further the state and local policy. Manages collaboration with Federal, state, county, municipal, tribal, insular and international governments and faith-based leaders. The Executive Director for Intergovernmental Affairs has management oversight of the Office of Tribal Government Relations, the Center for Faith and Opportunity Initiative and the Office of State and Local Government Affairs.
As part of its ongoing modernization efforts, VA is launching a new electronic health record (EHR) system to store and track patient medical information, with full implementation across all VA facilities scheduled for completion by 2028. Through this effort, known as the Electronic Health Record Modernization (EHRM) program, VA is implementing one of the most advanced EHRs in the country.