Chairman Rep. Van Orden convened a House Veterans’ Affairs hearing focused on employment pathways for veterans, but lawmakers repeatedly returned to an urgent, separate problem: delayed Chapter 35 survivor and dependent education payments.

Ranking Member Chris Pappas said the committee first learned in August of what appeared to be a limited problem affecting about 750 beneficiaries, only to see the number grow—via press reports—to roughly 75,000. "Veterans, survivors, and dependents across the country who rely on these benefits for housing, education, or anything else have been left in limbo," Pappas said during his opening remarks, and he demanded a direct update and an accountable, political‑appointee witness at a follow‑up hearing.

Kenneth Smith, executive director for education services at the Veterans Benefits Administration, acknowledged delays and apologized for slow responses to congressional inquiries. Smith said VA staff have been working through the agency's concurrence and claims processes since the shutdown and promised a full set of statistics at an upcoming hearing or staff briefing. "You have my assurance, so we've been working on it," Smith said when asked for progress updates.

Members from both parties framed the problem as an urgent oversight issue. Rep. Kennedy and others said delayed payments threaten students’ ability to sign leases, buy textbooks and continue degree programs. Rep. Ramirez described widespread operational impacts from the government shutdown—citing closed regional benefit offices and delayed transition briefings—and said she had been told more than 75,000 veterans and family members had their tuition and housing payments delayed after a software failure stopped automated benefit delivery.

Smith declined to give an immediate, precise count during questioning but committed to delivering detailed statistics and to appearing before the committee in two weeks with more information. Pappas stressed that letters from the committee to VA had gone unanswered and called the lack of communication "absolutely unacceptable." Smith said letters were in the VA concurrence process and would be released as soon as possible.

The hearing record includes multiple requests from members that the VA send a political appointee who will not "pass the buck" and that the committee hear directly from affected student veterans and survivors to better understand the harm caused by the delays. The subcommittee scheduled a follow‑up staff briefing and asked for a more complete response at an upcoming hearing.