President Trump’s executive order means faster access to VA healthcare, benefits than ever before - VA News

WASHINGTON – President Donald J. Trump today signed an executive order that will reduce by weeks the average time it takes Veterans to secure Department of Veterans Affairs benefits. The order, “ Accelerating Access to Veterans’ Benefits and Employment Opportunities ,” calls on VA and the Department of War to work together to ensure that service members’ Military Personnel Files and Service Treatment Records are shared with VA from the day they join the military. Immediate VA access to these records is critical to enabling Veterans to quickly access the VA benefits they’ve earned when they leave military service, such as healthcare, disability compensation, GI Bill and home loan benefits. During the second Trump Administration, VA has already reduced the average time it takes to process disability benefits claims by 46%, from 141.5 days to 76.1 days. Sharing of military records between DoW and VA could reduce processing times for recently separated service members by another 20 to 30 days on average. President Trump’s order calls on VA and DoW to update all related information technology systems to allow this information sharing to take place, leverage artificial intelligence to make the benefits process more convenient for Veterans, and adjust all related technology contracts to ensure the goals of the order are met. Additionally, it calls on VA and the Department of Labor to work with DoW as it updates the Transition Assistance Program and other programs aimed at helping Veterans quickly find jobs after they leave the military. “President Trump understands the importance of putting Veterans First like no other commander in chief, and this executive order will make it faster and more convenient for Veterans to get the benefits they’ve earned,” said VA Secretary Doug Collins . “Giving VA continuous access to warfighters’ military records will eliminate weeks of waiting for Veterans applying for VA healthcare and financial benefits. We want to make the transition from military to Veteran status as seamless as possible, and we look forward to working with President Trump and Department of War Secretary Pete Hegseth to do just that.” President Trump’s executive order is the latest in a long list of landmark progress his administration has made for Veterans. During his second administration, VA has: Enrolled more than 250,000 new Veterans in VA healthcare in 2026. Opened 41 new VA healthcare facilities , expanding healthcare access for Veterans around the country. Reduced the backlog of Veterans waiting for VA benefits by more than 70% , after it increased 24% during the Biden Administration. Completed a record high 82,083,918 direct care appointments in FY 2025, up 4.1% from FY 2024. Completed a record high 59,989,662 community care appointments in FY 2025, up 12% from FY 2024. Offered Veterans more than 3.2 million appointments outside of normal operating hours, giving Veterans more timely and convenient options for care. Committed nearly $5 billion in the current fiscal year to repair and improve VA healthcare facilities across the country – the largest non-recurring maintenance investment in VA’s history. Permanently housed 51,936 homeless Veterans across the country in FY25, the highest total in seven years. Reporters and media outlets with questions or comments should contact the Office of Media Relations at vapublicaffairs@va.gov Veterans with questions about their health care and benefits (including GI Bill). Questions, updates and documents can be submitted online. Contact us online through Ask VA Veterans can also use our chatbot to get information about VA benefits and services. The chatbot won’t connect you with a person, but it can show you where to go on VA.gov to find answers to some common questions. Learn about our chatbot and ask a question Subscribe today to receive these news releases in your inbox. More from the Press Room News Releases September 4, 2026 VA dedicates Nevada’s first national cemetery VA dedicates Nevada’s first national cemetery in Elko, Nevada. News Releases September 2, 2026 VA cemeteries to host National Day of Service and Remembrance marking the 25th anniversary of 9/11 National Day of Service and Remembrance hosted at VA cemeteries marking the 25th anniversary of 9/11. News Releases September 1, 2026 Following major reforms, over 250K new Veterans enroll in VA healthcare in 2026 Landmark improvements during second Trump Administration sees more than 250,000 new Veterans enrolled in VA healthcare. — VA Press Room — official release from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Furnished by the department. Not a Notice Nearby paid placement. This page reprints an official U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs release from the VA Press Room. Notice Nearby did not write this. Read the original: https://news.va.gov/press-room/president-trumps-executive-order-means-faster-access-to-va-healthcare-benefits-than-ever-before