More Care, More Perks, Fewer Staff: Inside the VA’s Ambitious 2026 Budget

The U.S. House of Representatives and Senate haven’t yet ironed out the differences between their 2026 VA funding bills, so it isn’t yet clear how much of the requested funding the VA will get or how it will be allocated. Of course, the answers to those questions could have a significant impact on disabled veterans. And the budget covers much more than just VA disability benefits. 

Here’s what you need to know about what the White House requested, what obstacles they may face in implementing their ambitious plans, and how the House and Senate versions of the bill currently differ. 

What’s in the Proposed 2026 VA Budget? 

The White House has proposed a budget of $441.2 billion for fiscal year 2026, which would be an increase of about $40 billion compared with 2025. That includes $134.1 billion in discretionary spending for VA medical care. 

The proposal includes funds for some new or languishing initiatives. For example, the administration requested just over $1 billion for a program–Bridging Rental Assistance for Veteran Empowerment (BRAVE)–to help address the problem of veteran homelessness. The White House also requested $3.495 billion to re-up the electronic healthcare records effort. 

Differences in the House and Senate VA Budget Bills

As of this writing, the House and Senate have each passed a 2026 VA funding bill, but there are some big differences between the two bills. The two houses will have to come to an agreement before a bill is passed–probably one that differs somewhat from each of the existing bills. 

Here are the key differences between the two bills: 

In total, the Senate bill provides more than $16 billion less in discretionary medical spending. The two bills are similar in many ways, and some discrepancies narrow enough that they may be easily resolved–for example, the difference between Information Technology budgets is a fraction of 1%. 

On the other hand, some differences are dramatic. The most obvious example is that the House has provided nearly $1 billion to fund rent assistance for veterans, whereas the Senate has opted not to fund that program at all. 

Other Obstacles to Implementation of the 2026 Budget

It appears that at least some line items in the administration’s proposed budget will be reduced, or cut entirely. But even if the budget were fully funded as requested, the VA would likely still face significant challenges in putting those dollars to work. That’s because at the same time the White House is requesting additional funds to expand certain efforts and even implement new programs, the VA is facing significant staffing cuts. 

Early in 2025, the reported plan was for the VA to cut staff by 83,000. Though that goal was later scaled back, about 17,000 jobs were eliminated in the first six months of 2025, with a goal of increasing that count to 30,000 by the end of September. Those cuts would likely have caused problems for disabled veterans and others entitled to VA health care services at any time. But the staffing cuts didn’t come at just any time–they came in the wake of hundreds of thousands of veterans gaining access to VA health care because of Biden’s early implementation of a PACT Act provision.

Delays in A Health Care Have Already Begun

VA disability benefits recipients and others who are entitled to VA health care services have already reported obstacles due to the staffing shortages. Some within the VA have expressed similar frustrations. Cuts to clinical staff mean some veterans are waiting longer for appointments and facing other challenges. 

The OIG Determination of Veterans Health Administration’s Severe Occupational Staffing Shortages Fiscal Year 2025 revealed that: 

• 94% of VA facilities were short on medical officers
• 57% were short on clinical staff in psychology
• 79% were short on nurses
• 58% were short on police support
• 37% were short on clerical and technical staff

What Should Veterans Expect? 

There are still many unknowns. To start, the House and Senate must reach an agreement. Until that happens, we won’t know what the 2026 budget will be. Once both Houses of Congress pass the bill, it has to be signed by the President. Then–regardless of what the specifics of the budget are–the VA will face the challenge of trying to do more with less. 

In theory, a larger budget with reduced staffing costs could open up new opportunities for the VA. However, there’s one big glitch: the vast majority of services provided by the VA involve health care for veterans. And delivering health care services requires adequate clinical staff and support staff. 

If the VA gets most of what the White House has proposed in its 2026 budget, it may still struggle to fully implement and invest in new or expanded programs. 

Get the Benefits You’re Entitled To

While the VA budget may be uncertain, many things about VA disability benefits and VA health care remain the same. If you are a disabled veteran seeking benefits, you should talk with an experienced VA disability benefits advocate as soon as possible. 

Whether you are considering filing a VA disability claim for the first time, are already receiving benefits but believe your disability rating should be higher or that you may qualify for TDIU classification, or have been denied benefits and need to appeal, the advocates at Veterans Help Group have the knowledge and experience to guide you through the process. We are here to help ensure that you submit the strongest claim or appeal possible, with the supporting evidence and documentation we know the VA looks for in cases like yours. 

Call us today at 855-855-8992 or click here for a FREE case evaluation.

Not sure what your VA Disability Rating would be? Check out our VA Disability calculator HERE!

FAQs About the VA’s 2026 Budget

1. Has the 2026 VA budget been finalized?

Not yet. The House and Senate have each passed their own versions of the funding bill, but they still need to reach an agreement before it goes to the President for approval. The final numbers and which programs get funded remain uncertain.

2. What are the biggest differences between the House and Senate bills?

The House version includes more funding overall, with $131.4 billion for VA medical care compared to $114.9 billion in the Senate bill. The House also funds the BRAVE rental assistance program at nearly $1 billion, while the Senate provides no funding for it.

3. How will staffing cuts affect veterans?

Even with a larger proposed budget, the VA is facing tens of thousands of job cuts, including nurses, medical officers, and clinical staff. These reductions have already led to longer wait times and service delays at many VA facilities across the country.

Veteran Resources:

• Most Commonly Approved VA Disability Claims
• Free VA Disability Guidebooks
• VFW SSDI Qualifications Questionnaire