The Department of Veterans Affairs announced it cut the backlog of veterans waiting for compensation and pension benefits by 74% since President Donald Trump started his second term.
Under President Joe Biden’s administration, the backlog of veterans on a waiting list for benefits spiked by 24%. However, the backlog dropped to fewer than 70,000 veterans for the first time since February 2020, during Trump’s first term. The VA defines a backlog as a claim that has been pending for more than 125 days.
“This is what putting Veterans first looks like,” said VA Secretary Doug Collins in a statement. “We are incredibly proud of these historic numbers, which mean faster decisions, better service and more benefits for the men and women who have worn the uniform.”
The claims backlog reached a record high of 70% during the administration of President Barack Obama, in 2013, with more than 610,000 veterans having backlogged claims. Today, 11.6% of veterans’ benefit claims are older than 125 days, according to the Department of Veterans Affairs. The number of veterans with delayed claims fell precipitously after 2013 and remained at that level before it spiked again during the pandemic.
In 2014, a whistleblower reported that a VA hospital in Phoenix and other VA facilities manipulated appointment data to conceal how long veterans were waiting for treatment. The waiting list scandal ultimately led to the resignation of VA Secretary Eric Shinseki.
In 2018, Trump signed the VA MISSION Act to reform veterans’ health care and increase access to community providers.
Currently, claims take an average of 77.7 days to process, which the department says is the fastest time ever. The VA adds that, under the second Trump administration, it has decided more than 1 million claims in fewer than 30 days.
The VA asserts that during the second Trump administration it has opened 38 new health care facilities, processed more than 3 million disability compensation and pension claims in fiscal year 2025, offered veterans more than 3 million appointments outside of normal operating hours, and provided housing for 51,936 homeless veterans across the country in fiscal year 2025, which the department said is the highest total in seven years.
Fred Lucas is senior investigative reporter for the Daily Signal. He is the author of “The Myth of Voter Suppression: The Left’s Assault on Clean Elections.”
The opinions expressed by columnists are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of AMAC or AMAC Action.
And I hear “why should they get special treatment”. The wait is still to long for what they sacrificed.
Our Veterans deserve the best Healthcare and compensation for their service to our Country. I wholeheartedly support them and any needs they have. God Bless our Veterans.
I’ve been in the VA healthcare system since 2001. Thanks to the changes made under the Trump presidencies it’s the best it’s ever been.
This article brought more light to our wonderful Veterans who deserve so much dignity & respect from all of us. Without them we would have been lost to communism, which is basically where we are headed. Listen to commie mamdumi. His evilness pours out of his eyes & his mouth. He’s a demon in disguise. How could anyone agree with what he has said or promised. All is falling apart in NYC & it’s just beginning. Our brave veterans who gave up their lives for our country & us or came back with horrendous injuries believed that our country is worth saving to continue our values, etc. Take time to sincerely thank our veterans when you see them. They were & are so brave to do what they had to do for our freedom. Veterans should be our number one priority, not illegal aliens. Do you want freedom or do you want communistic rule???? I choose freedom. Thank you & God bless all of our Veterans that are still with us & those who have died while at war. Pray people for our country.
Biden has Dementia , Obama is a Communist Girlie Man .
Our veterans should have the benefits that the senators and congressmen have. And the senators and congressmen should have to get by on the veterans benefits. That would certainly change things up.
When a business man, one with a degree in business, is elected to do a job, you find a great improvement. I am wondering why there are so many veteran charities. I receive request for support for at least five. From “wounded warriors” to blind veterans, and always hope the vets get the support. And this has been in effect, for many years.
So appreciate President Trump, he has kept all his promises. Now if our senate and house can keep up with him, government may improve.
“Nothing is too good for those folks”, is the old saying. So, nowadays, that’s what they get. Nothing.
“Thank You for your service!” folks say to me, very occasionally. But I get the feeling what they really mean is “Thank You. Now go away…”
I won’t even go to the VA anymore…