VA Secretary Doug Collins said 37,000 employees have been furloughed or are working without pay during the ongoing government shutdown. (Getty)
"I call on them to open the government and enable VA to provide the complete and comprehensive services America’s veterans, families, caregivers and survivors have earned," he added.
Despite some services still being offered, others have stopped.
A news release said more than 900,000 veterans are unable to get assistance from the GI Bill hotline, which has shut down, and 100,000 enrolled veterans cannot get Veteran Readiness and Employment program counseling or case management services because employees from those departments have been furloughed.
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The Department of Veterans Affairs headquarters in Washington, D.C. (Stefani Reynolds/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
In addition, 56 VA regional benefits offices are closed to the public.
More than 16,000 service members who are preparing to leave the military can't receive VA transition briefings because the contract that provides for this service is not operational during the lapse in appropriations. And 157 VA national cemeteries across the country are no longer doing maintenance or placing permanent headstones.
However, burials will also continue at VA national cemeteries.
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VA benefit claims continue to be processed and delivered, including compensation, pension, education and housing benefits, the agency said.
Republicans have blamed Democrats for the ongoing shutdown, accusing them of prioritizing healthcare for illegal immigrants over taxpayers. Democrats say GOP leaders need to negotiate a bipartisan deal that also protects people from a spike in healthcare costs.
Louis Casiano is a reporter for Fox News Digital. Story tips can be sent to louis.casiano@fox.com.
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/nearly-37000-va-employees-furloughed-working-pay-government-shutdown