Senators Press Agency Officials on Safeguards for Veterans’ Care During VA RISE Reorganization
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Summary
Senators questioned agency officials about the VA RISE reorganization, seeking assurances that veterans’ access to care will not be interrupted; officials said changes are at policy and VISN levels, frontline clinicians will be engaged, and FY26 community-care funding is budgeted at the stated allocation.
Unidentified Speaker 1, a senator, asked agency officials whether veterans’ ability to receive care would remain uninterrupted during the VA RISE modernization and what specific protections will be implemented to ensure continuity.
The secretary’s office responded that the redesign is intended to avoid interfering with care and, where possible, to improve access by cutting administrative layers. "What we're doing is designed to not, interfere ... except in that care but actually make it better," said Unidentified Speaker 2. Officials cited examples such as streamlining routes to community care and allowing direct access to women’s health services without routing through primary care.
Agency representatives described the organizational approach as focused on policy and the VISN (Veterans Integrated Service Network) middle level rather than changes to individual medical centers. "We're not making any organizational change structure in the middle part or in the bottom part," Unidentified Speaker 3 said, adding that the intention is to move policy offices out of day-to-day execution so facilities can handle implementation locally. Greg, a staff member involved in process improvement, emphasized that frontline clinicians and executive leaders were engaged throughout development and will continue to be consulted: "The number 1 priority through this reorganization is to make sure that direct care is not impacted for our veterans and their families."
On resourcing, the secretary's office told senators it has the necessary authorities and is budgeting for fiscal 2026. "We are, currently, allocated fiscal year 26 community care is at 50,000,000,174," Unidentified Speaker 2 said, and officials said earlier transfer issues raised with the appropriations committee were addressed. The agency said it is budgeting to that allocation for community care in FY26 and appreciates congressional input during the appropriation cycle.
The hearing record shows officials repeatedly framed the plan as an iterative, nine-month effort developed by internal "vision leaders," augmented by outside expertise and internal VHA consultants. Senators noted local work such as a public–private affordable housing project (Patriot Park, Fayetteville, Arkansas) serving veterans and invited agency officials to visit the site.
No formal votes or motions were recorded in the transcript. The exchange closed after senators and agency representatives traded closing remarks and an invitation to tour the housing project.
