Mobile Courant

U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) has raised concerns regarding the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and its recent $15 billion budget shortfall. In an op-ed published in the Daily Caller, Tuberville criticized the lack of transparency from VA leaders and called for immediate oversight.

"Plugging the holes with billion-dollar band-aids may work for President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, but our veterans deserve better," Tuberville stated.

The senator urged Senate Veterans Affairs Committee Chairman Jon Tester (D-MT) to hold a hearing to investigate the budget lapse. Before the Senate's recess, Tuberville and colleagues sent a letter demanding such a hearing to assess potential mismanagement at the VA.

"Why did the VA wait until the last minute to alert Congress to the shortfalls?" questioned Tuberville. "Did the VA know about the potential budget issues months ago — while Congress was drafting spending bills — and refuse to tell Congress? It seems to me they either knew this was likely to happen (and did not say anything) or that the VA is in dire need of vastly more capable financial officers."

Tuberville emphasized that an oversight hearing is necessary to understand what led to this significant budget shortfall and prevent future occurrences.

"This situation is a glaring misuse of taxpayer dollars and should never be tolerated — at the VA or any other agency," he added.

Tuberville also stressed that nearly half a million veterans in Alabama depend on timely health care and benefits, which could be jeopardized by financial mismanagement at the VA.

"We cannot allow this crisis of agency management to be swept under the rug," he asserted.

Tuberville concluded by urging both the VA and Chairman Tester to take immediate action: "Veterans and taxpayers deserve answers."

Senator Tommy Tuberville represents Alabama in the United States Senate and serves on several committees including Armed Services, Agriculture, Veterans’ Affairs, and HELP Committees.