Several veteran groups are urging Congress to pass a short-term spending measure to avert a potential government shutdown, warning that the GOP-led continuing resolution (CR) contains extensions vital for veterans’ housing, benefits and health care.
Four veteran groups — American Legion, AMVETS (American Veterans), Vietnam Veterans of America and Mission Roll Call — said on Saturday that the CR, which passed the House earlier this month, contains “vital extensions” for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) that “safeguard” important programs, including the Staff Sergeant Parker Gordon Fox Suicide Prevention Grant Program, the Health Care for Homeless Veterans (HCHV) Program and the Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) Program.
“Congress must act without delay to pass this measure and ensure the VA can continue delivering lifesaving services to veterans and their families,” AMVETS told The Hill in a statement. “Looking ahead, AMVETS encourages Congress to prioritize timely, full-year appropriations to provide the VA with the stability and predictability needed to best serve our nation’s veterans.”
Republican and Democratic leadership appear far apart from reaching a consensus to pass the CR and avoid a potential shutdown slated to kick in after midnight Tuesday.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries (N.Y.) have each said they will not vote for the House-passed short-term spending measure. Some other Democrats within the conference are looking at other ways to avoid the shutdown on Sept. 30. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), who plans to retire in late 2026, has sent out “feelers” to GOP lawmakers about reaching a potential deal. She has not ruled out voting for the CR.
On Thursday, Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) said Congress could avoid a shutdown if Democrats scale back their demands to add about $1.2 trillion in health care-related spending to the CR.
With President Trump turning down a request from Schumer and Jeffries to negotiate, Democrats are left with a few options, but none are ideal for the party currently in the minority in both chambers.
GOP senators will need backing from at least eight Democrats to advance the bill, considering Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) said he will not support the CR.
“Every day of delay caused by partisan conflict means veterans remain on the streets, families wait for benefits decisions and momentum toward solving the suicide crisis is lost,” Vietnam Veterans of America told The Hill.
“I appeal to both of you, as leaders of your caucuses, to resist the pull of political brinkmanship and work together with the President to keep the government open,” the group’s statement continued, likely referring to Schumer and Jeffries.
Senate Democrats are reportedly holding a conference call on Sunday at 4 p.m. ET to talk about their shutdown strategy.
If the government shuts down next week, veterans will still be able to get their pensions and disability payments. The 24-hour Veterans Crisis Line would still work and VA hospitals would remain open, but other services would halt temporarily, including the GI Bill Hotline, VA benefits regional offices and some others.
“These extensions are not simply bureaucratic measures; they directly affect the lives of veterans and their families,” the American Legion, a veterans organization with over 1.6 million members, said in a statement.