Veterans Affairs Secretary Doug Collins told Newsmax on Wednesday that 97% of the agency’s operations would continue during the government shutdown thanks to advance appropriations, but warned the remaining 3% at risk could have major consequences for the nation’s veterans.
“Call centers are open, suicide prevention programs, caregiver support — all continuing,” he told Newsmax’s “Wake Up America,” adding that the shutdown will affect the VA’s “transition program assistance, career counseling, our outreach to veterans, our outreach to state, county, and tribal [partners].”
“We’re not being able to do ground maintenance or [install] permanent headstones at our cemeteries,” Collins said. “The pre-needs for burials at cemeteries are not going to be processed right now.”
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