Renovating aging Veterans Affairs hospitals is taking a backseat to pet projects by the Biden administration, with the federal agency asking for $140 billion in discretionary funds for next year’s budget.
The proposed budget has ballooned to over $300 billion for the first time in history, a 13% increase over the current year. With that is a 19% increase in discretionary funds, which is double the normal increase. The funds will go toward healthcare, benefits, and national cemeteries, according to the White House.
When Allred asked to get “some insight into the decreased request here,” McDonough responded that the VA asks for moderate amounts to complete specific projects. The agency received $17 billion from the American Rescue Plan and $20 billion from the COVID-19 CARES Act, Bost noted.