US Department of Veterans Affairs requests $488.2 billion budget

The US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) serves more than nine million veterans annually. According to 2024 US Census Bureau estimates, there are 26.59 million veterans in the United States.

The VA's healthcare infrastructure includes 170 medical centers and 1,193 outpatient sites. For the 2027 budget, the department has requested an appropriation of $488.2 billion, representing a 7.7% increase over the 2026 budget.

Historically, the agency's roots trace back to 1789 legislation for Revolutionary War pensions. The modern Veterans Administration was established via executive order signed by President Herbert Hoover on July 21, 1930, which consolidated several existing bureaus and homes for disabled soldiers.