Hey fellow Veterans, families, caregivers, and survivors—it’s Vincent here, a proud Vet who’s been through the wringer with the VA system more times than I can count. I just got this week’s #VetResources newsletter in my inbox (yeah, that’s me, and with the government shutdown kicking off at midnight on October 1, 2025, I figured I’d rewrite and share it in my own words. As someone who’s relied on these services, this hits close to home. The shutdown’s still dragging on into its second day—no quick fix yet from the folks in Congress. Let’s break it down plain and simple so we all know what’s up.
What’s Going On with the Shutdown?
Look, we’ve all seen this movie before. Funding for parts of the government, including some VA stuff, ran out because Congress couldn’t get their act together. President Trump is against this mess, and back on September 19, the House passed a no-frills continuing resolution—with the administration’s backing—to keep things funded until November 21. But it’s stuck in the Senate, where Democrats are holding it up over some unrelated policy stuff. Frustrating as hell, right? Most VA operations are chugging along fine, but there are some real impacts. Here’s the scoop on what matters to us.
VA Programs Getting Hit
These are the ones taking a pause—stuff that’s important but not emergency-level. It’s a bummer, especially if you’re in the middle of something:
- No Veteran career counseling or transition assistance programs right now. If you’re job hunting or easing out of service, you’ll have to wait.
- The GI Bill Hotline is closed. Education questions? Hang tight or hit up VA.gov.
- VA regional benefits offices are shut to walk-ins. No in-person help for now.
- Public affairs and outreach events are off the table—no VA reaching out or hosting stuff for us Vets.
- They won’t be placing permanent headstones or doing grounds maintenance at national cemeteries. (Burials are still happening, though.)
- Pre-need burial applications aren’t being processed.
- New presidential memorial certificates? Not getting printed.
The Good News: What’s Still Running Strong
Thank God for this— the essentials aren’t touched. Health care, benefits checks, and crisis support are all good:
- Health care keeps rolling. VA Medical Centers, Outpatient Clinics, and Vet Centers are open for business as usual.
- Benefits like compensation, pension, education, and housing? Still getting processed and paid out on time.
- Burials at national cemeteries continue, along with processing for headstones, markers, and burial benefits.
- The Board of Veterans’ Appeals is still cranking out decisions on our cases.
- Contact centers are 24/7: Hit up 1-800-MyVA411 for general questions, or the Veterans Crisis Line at 988 (press 1) if you’re in a tough spot.
A Few Key Reminders from One Vet to Another
- If things are getting dark and you’re having suicidal thoughts, reach out immediately: Call 988, press 1, or check out www.veteranscrisisline.net. We’ve got your six—don’t go it alone.
- For personal VA questions, the safe way is through VA.gov/contact-us. Don’t risk it elsewhere.
- This isn’t an endorsement of any non-VA junk; just passing along the facts.
- If you’re subscribed to VA updates like I am, you can tweak your preferences or unsubscribe through the links in their emails. Not subscribed? Sign up for #VetResources—it’s worth it for staying in the loop.
As a Veteran, it’s aggravating to see politics messing with our hard-earned support. We’ve served our country; the least they can do is keep the lights on. But hey, most of it’s holding up, so let’s stay informed and support each other. If this shutdown drags on, I’ll keep an eye out for updates. Drop a comment if you’ve got thoughts or need to vent—Semper Fi, or whatever your branch’s motto is.
This is my take on the official VA newsletter from October 2, 2025. For the real deal, check VA.gov.
