November 14, 2025

Ranking Members Takano & Blumenthal Demand Secretary Collins Address Education and Housing Benefit Payment Delays

WASHINGTON— Today, House Veterans’ Affairs Committee Ranking Member Mark Takano (D-CA), Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee Ranking Member Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), and Ranking Member of the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity, Chris Pappas (D-NH), sent a letter addressed to Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary Doug Collins urging him to address VA’s failure to pay out required education benefits to thousands of veterans, their families, and survivors.

“We have serious concerns with the exponential increase in the number of student veterans, their families, survivors, and educational institutions impacted by severe delays in payments of VA educational programs benefits,” said the lawmakers.

Their letter noted that in August 2025, Congress was told 750 individuals were experiencing payment delays. Recent reporting indicates that “VA recently shared with schools that there are now 75,000 Dependent Educational Assistance (DEA) beneficiaries impacted by delayed payments”. This reporting echoes the information congressional offices are receiving directly from veterans, families, and schools.

“The fact that payments for essential housing and tuition benefits have been delayed for nearly four months, forcing student veterans and survivors into financial instability and uncertainty as they began a new academic term, is simply unacceptable,” said the lawmakers.

“VA’s own website tells students they can expect education benefits payments to continue during a lapse in appropriations,” continued the lawmakers. “For any future lapses in funding, we urge you to use your existing authorities to follow the White House’s own guidance on carrying out mandatory programs during any lapse in appropriated funding.”

The lawmakers demanded immediate resolution to these issues and urged the secretary to keep the GI Bill Hotline open and deem employees supporting Information Technology (IT) Maintenance and Upgrades as Essential/Critical staffing during any future shutdowns to prevent future failures by this Administration.

Secretary Collins has yet to respond to the letter or demands for action.

Please click here to read the full letter.

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