Spending · category

Veterans benefits & services

Disability compensation, VA health care, and the GI Bill. In FY2025 it came to $377B, 5.4% of all federal spending (#7 of 18 categories). Adjusted for inflation, that is up 353% since FY2000.

$377B

FY2025 outlays

5.4%

of all federal spending

+16%

change from FY2024 ($326B)

67%

mandatory (the rest is discretionary)

Where it goes

Veterans benefits & services by subcategory, FY2025. Click one for every program inside it.

Mandatory (set by standing law)Discretionary (set by yearly appropriations)

Income security for veteransDisability compensation and pensions for veterans.

$201B53% Hospital and medical care for veteransThe Veterans Health Administration, including community care.

$149B39% Veterans education, training, and rehabilitationThe GI Bill and vocational rehabilitation.

$16.4B4% Other veterans benefits and services

$10.3B3% Veterans housing

$981M0%

The biggest programs

The largest individual accounts in veterans benefits & services, FY2025, across all its subcategories.

Mandatory (set by standing law)Discretionary (set by yearly appropriations)

Veterans disability compensationCompensation · Benefits Programs

$197B VA medical servicesMedical Services · Veterans Health Administration

$73.9B Toxic Exposures Fund (PACT Act)Cost of War Toxic Exposures Fund · Departmental Administration

$31.2B VA community careMedical Community Care · Veterans Health Administration

$23.0B GI Bill (education benefits)Readjustment Benefits · Benefits Programs

$16.3B Medical Support and ComplianceVeterans Health Administration

$11.3B Medical FacilitiesVeterans Health Administration

$8.98B Information Technology SystemsDepartmental Administration

$6.40B Veterans Housing Benefit Program FundBenefits Programs

$6.07B Pensions benefitsBenefits Programs

$3.09B Toxic Exposures Fund (PACT Act)Cost of War Toxic Exposures Fund · Departmental Administration

$1.92B Veterans Electronic Health Care RecordDepartmental Administration

$1.39B

Veterans benefits & services since 1993

Outlays in 2025 dollars (adjusted for inflation), fiscal years 1993–2025. Share of all federal spending: 2.5% in FY1993, 5.4% in FY2025.

Subcategories

Subcategory	FY2025	vs FY2024	Real, since 2000	Programs
Income security for veterans	$201B	+24%	+354%	8
Hospital and medical care for veterans	$149B	+7.4%	+331%	13
Veterans education, training, and rehabilitation	$16.4B	+21%	+620%	4
Other veterans benefits and services	$10.3B	−34%	+537%	17
Veterans housing	$981M	n/a	+52%	2

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