Opinion: How VA fund cuts threaten veteran equity in Pennsylvania

In 2022, Pennsylvania had the fourth-largest veteran population in the U.S., with more than 668,000 individuals. Almost half of these individuals served in the military between 1950 and 1980, a period when asbestos use was extensive and worker protection mechanisms had not yet been implemented.

Asbestos is a highly toxic natural mineral, and was applied for insulation and fireproofing purposes. The material was also part of various machineries and systems, leading to exposure across all military branches. Asbestos is generally harmless when not disturbed. However, veterans carrying out construction and maintenance work, especially in confined spaces, such as below decks in Navy ships, inhaled enormous amounts of asbestos fibers, which cause cancer and chronic lung diseases decades later.

Pennsylvania holds the U.S.’s first Navy Shipyard in Philadelphia, where, for two decades following World War II, shipbuilding activities using asbestos were carried out. Up until the 1920s, racism and discrimination kept black people away from sailor positions in the Navy, and from military uniform. By the 1950s, with the start of the Korean War, these people began to be enlisted across the U.S. Military, including in the Navy and Air Force. Many who served aboard ships not only worked there, but also lived aboard, in asbestos-packed quarters with no or poor ventilation, exposing these sailors to hazardous asbestos fibers every day for years on end. Currently, from the total veteran population in this state, over 117,000 former service members are part of an ethnic minority group, including black, hispanic, and others. Given previous histories of toxic exposure in the military, outreach to these individuals remains essential for a just compensation.

Federal cuts mean ignored claims

Veterans exposed to toxins during their service in the military gained easier access to claims through the PACT Act 2022 for more than 20 diseases caused by occupational hazards. Since its implementation, this law has not only improved the rate at which claims are processed, but also the number of claims approved, by using objective data and eliminating bias from the claims assessment process.  In contrast to 2021, when around 280,000 claims were approved, in 2022 and 2023, 1.1 million claims out of 1.7 million processed were granted compensation worth $6.8 billion. Notably, while a large part of this success can be attributed to the specificities of the Act, the Department for Veterans Affairs (VA)’s diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives also improved outreach to the most underserved veteran communities, including women and ethnic minorities. Before these initiatives and the PACT Act framework, claims made by ethnic minority veterans were approved at a rate lower by 14%  when compared to other veteran groups.

However, this significant number of approved claims also caused extensive pressure on the VA, leading to a series of funding cuts, including the removal of DEI to save $6.1 million from employee salaries and training resources. Although budget constraints are justifiable, with the VA now processing and approving a record-breaking number of claims, dismantling DEI may have unintended effects and reverse the progress made in outreach to underserved communities. This is especially concerning given that projections for the future demographic makeup of veteran populations indicate a significant increase in the number of women and ethnic minorities.An underserved group in Pennsylvania is that of more than 66,000 women, making up about 10% of the entire veteran population. PACT Act claims seem to encompass the entire eligible women veteran population, yet discrepancies here reflect broader systemic issues in the VA healthcare system. Unlike their male counterparts, women veterans report lower satisfaction rates with VA healthcare, limited access to care and timely doctor visits, as well as lower levels of trust in their doctors. This combination of factors results in women experiencing poorer health outcomes, thus increasing discrepancies in VA-served populations.

Considering these aspects, and especially future VA population projections, DEI removal may undo progress achieved to date in outreach and risks exacerbating discrepancies among veteran communities. This is particularly evident in states like Pennsylvania, where diverse demographics are present. To preserve the gains made through the PACT Act and ensure equitable access to benefits, more cost-efficient DEI approaches may be necessary. Without intentional outreach and tailored support, vulnerable veteran groups, especially those already affected by past toxic exposures, may once again fall through the cracks of a strained system.