How Veterans are Being Affected by the Government Shutdown
The Effect is Relatively Light?
While we are not interested in the commentary upon the present state of affairs by the VA’s current public affairs engine, LVMAC thinks it important that veterans know truthfully the effect of the current shutdown upon VA and Department of Labor (DOL) services to them for their own sake. At present, we know these things — as best we can — from various sources (the impact of employee reductions is an unknown at present):
Unaffected:
- VA Medical Centers, Outpatient Clinics, and Vet Centers remain open.
- VA benefits continue to be processed and delivered, including compensation, pension, education, and housing benefits. [Editor’s Note: However, expect delays in processing.]
- Service-connected disability compensations, disability pensions, and caregiver payments continue as they are part of mandatory funding. No delays should be expected.
- Burials continue at VA national cemeteries. Applications for headstones, markers, and burial benefits processing continues.
- Caregiver Support continues.
- The Board of Veterans’ Appeals continues to make decisions on Veterans’ cases.
- VA Contact Centers (1-800-MyVA411) remain available.
- The Veterans Crisis Line (Dial 988, Press 1) is open 24/7.
- The VA Benefit Hotline (800-827-1000) remains available.
Affected and Significant:
- The VA is not providing career counseling or transition assistance program activities.
- The GI Bill Hotline is closed.
- The Homeless Hotline is closed, but homeless services will continue.
- VA regional benefits offices (VAROs) are closed. [Editor’s Note: How will the benefits processing be affected?]
- The DOL Veterans Assistance and Training Service (VETS) ceased operations, including job training and employment assistance programs. As of this writing, the effect on CareerLinks is unknown.
Affected and Not as Important:
- VA and DOL public affairs outreach efforts to military veterans have ceased.
- VA is not permanently placing headstones or maintaining the grounds at VA national cemeteries.
- VA is not processing applications for pre-need burials.
- VA is not printing new presidential memorial certificates.
Note that the White House VA Hotline (1-855-948-2311), which is actually staffed by VA employees, will remain available. You might want to call to find out if they need us to cut the grass at the cemeteries.
RJH
As of 2 October 2025