The year ahead will be a period of major changes for the Department of Veterans Affairs, with new leadership, new priorities and likely its biggest budget in history. But how much all of that will impact veterans benefits and health care is less clear.
The department, which now boasts a $350 billion budget and more than 400,000 employees, will start 2025 with VA Secretary Denis McDonough and his administration wrapping up four years of expansion and outreach efforts.
President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration in January will mean at the least a clearing out of that Democratic leadership, replacing political appointees with his own picks.
During his last administration, VA issues were a major focal point of Trump’s White House. On the campaign trail last summer, he hinted at a repeat during his return to office, with plans to further expand medical care options for veterans and continue reforms in federal hiring (and firing) practices.
The following are some of the top Veterans Affairs stories to follow in 2025.