Training Delayed, Futures Denied: VA’s Voc Rehab Program Faces Heat
Congress is raising alarms — and rightfully so. During a July 16 oversight hearing titled “Path of Purpose: Restoring the VA VR&E Program”, lawmakers and veteran advocates pulled back the curtain on a program meant to help disabled veterans thrive — but failing to deliver results. (House Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity.)
What’s Falling Short?
Key takeaways from the hearing:
- Skyrocketing costs and decades-long timelines. One report cited a veteran still enrolled with no degree after $900K in VR&E spending .
- Overly lenient extensions. Since FY2020, nearly 40,000 extension requests were rubber-stamped, while only 59 were denied — suggesting a lack of accountability.
- Counselor shortages and turnover. Veterans frequently report being shuffled between counselors, delaying plans and damaging trust.
Why This Hits Disabled Vets Hard
VR&E (Vocational Rehabilitation & Employment) isn’t optional — it’s often life-changing for veterans coping with physical injuries, cognitive trauma, or mental health struggles. Delays and inconsistent support can lead to:
- Lost opportunities in education and training
- Worsened financial instability and stress
- Stalled career ambitions that affect long-term well-being
In short: the program’s failures don’t just hurt resumes — they hurt livelihoods.
Hear It From the Hearing Room …
House members didn’t mince words. As Rep. Derrick Van Orden put it:
“To your knowledge, has anyone been held accountable for this absolute buffoonery?”
Ranking Member Chris Pappas warned:
“Leaving veterans to their own devices … would be a terrible disservice to veterans and their families.”
Even VA officials admitted accountability and oversight controls were lacking, and pledged internal reforms.
What Must Change … Now!
- Tighten extension approvals: Veterans with legitimate needs should get help, but arbitrary approvals undermine the program’s integrity.
- Staff the program properly: Hire and retain trained counselors to manage caseloads effectively.
- Track outcomes and costs: Congress needs transparent data on graduation rates, job placements, and tuition spend.
- A recent PACT Act advocate report also called for better data and transparency to prevent misuse.
- A recent PACT Act advocate report also called for better data and transparency to prevent misuse.
- Enforce counselor consistency: Vets deserve to stay with one point of contact throughout their journey.
Final Thoughts: Veterans Deserve Results …
VR&E was created to bridge the gap between service and civilian career success.
But right now? That bridge is cracked.
Budget drains, delays, and mismanagement may be embedded in the bureaucracy — but disabled veterans pay the real price.
Change isn’t optional. Veterans deserve accountability, consistency, and results.
🔗 Want to keep the pressure on?
Check out the full subcommittee hearing and follow updates from HVAC’s Economic Opportunity Subcommittee here: House Oversight Hearing “Path of Purpose”.
It’s funny those Alex Jones yo-yos they hire at VHA go crazy and starting writing bogus nonsense into people’s medical records when they become untethered from a psychiatric doctor or good management. Just goes to show you how fucked up that organization is and how obvious it is they hire mentally ill people who have no regard for how you view them or that institution. I left because of the unprofessional behavior but those people who are completely full of shit and don’t give a shit because they think they can’t be sued or fired.
They don’t get people jobs or give people business loans. The only jobs they get people are the people administering the so called program. All they’re gonna do is toss you some change at below the cost of what it takes to run the program. This rediculous and autocratic entity must be destroyed.