Speaking at Arlington National Cemetery on Wednesday, President Barack Obama highlighted progress in how his administration is helping veterans but said he is "not satisfied" with the Department of Veterans Affairs' efforts, saying that additional reforms are necessary to provide better and faster access to benefits.
Obama pointed to a veteran unemployment rate that has decreased to a seven-year low of 3.9 percent as well as success in reducing a backlog of disability claims, but he noted that other problems still exist, reported The Associated Press.
"Still, the unacceptable problems that we've seen - like long wait times, and some veterans not getting the timely care that they need - is a challenge for all of us if we are to match our words with deeds," Obama said. "And my message to every single veteran, to veterans all across this country is that I am still not satisfied, and (VA Secretary) Bob McDonald is still not satisfied."
"Our tributes today will ring hollow if we do not ensure that our veterans receive the care that you have earned and that you deserve," Obama said.
He added: "We're going to keep investing in the facilities and the physicians and the staff to make sure that our veterans get the care that you need when you need it. That is our obligation and we are not going to let up."
The VA budget has increased by 73 percent since 2009, however, greater demand for services, computer glitches and mismanagement have resulted in delayed care, lost benefits claims, whistleblower retaliation and wasted resources, notes The Washington Times.
One of the largest scandals to rock the agency came in April 2014, when revelations surfaced that at least 40 veterans died while awaiting care at a VA facility in Phoenix, reports NBC News. The VA's inspector general also found that many medical facilities were manipulating long wait lists in order to make long wait times appear to be less than they actually were.
Further, The Huffington Post revealed Tuesday that a computer glitch is still preventing 29,000 combat vets from receiving health care, half of whom have already been on the pending list for more than five years. VA management first learned of the problem in April, but some suggest the VA could have known since 2012.
