Veterans Affairs

Members of Congress are pressing Oracle for answers about a sharp cost increase in the Department of Veterans Affairs' electronic health records modernization, now valued at roughly $17 billion. Lawmakers want details on why the price has grown so substantially and how the troubled program is being managed. The program has faced repeated delays, cost overruns and patient safety concerns since its rollout, drawing ongoing scrutiny from oversight committees.

The US Department of Veterans Affairs has implemented new consent requirements for certain psychiatric drugs, according to a New York Times report. The policy means veterans will need to give informed consent before receiving some of these medications. The move is drawing attention to how the VA handles psychiatric treatment for former service members.

The Department of Veterans Affairs has opened its 18th food hub, part of its effort to address hunger among former service members. The move comes as statistics show veterans are 7.4% more likely to experience food insecurity than the general population, prompting attention to how the VA is expanding food assistance programs for those who served.

Ellis Medicine will establish operations at the former Veterans Affairs clinic building in Rotterdam, New York. The announcement gives a new medical use to the vacant VA site, though details on services, timing, and investment have not yet been released. Local residents are watching for what the arrival of the Schenectady-based health system will mean for care access in the area.

George Drexel IV is identified on the VA Durham Health Care pages, the Department of Veterans Affairs medical system serving veterans in the Durham, North Carolina area. The listing places him within the facility's staff or leadership roster, drawing attention from those following veterans' health services in the region. Otherwise little detail is available about his exact role or any recent developments involving him.

Veteran BBC journalist John Simpson is drawing search attention in the United Kingdom, ranking among the day's most queried names. Beyond his long-standing role as the BBC's world affairs editor, no specific new development is confirmed in the available reporting, and the circulating coverage offers no clear explanation for the spike.

American poet and Vietnam War veteran W.D. Ehrhart is the subject of a Current Affairs interview in which he insists: "I'm not a war poet. I'm a poet who went to war." The distinction reflects his long-standing argument that his work is about human experience rather than combat alone. Readers are discussing his refusal to be categorised by his military past.

The Department of Veterans Affairs is required to reevaluate certain mental health disability claims in specific circumstances, and a new breakdown of when those reexaminations are legally mandated is drawing attention from veterans. The discussion covers the rules governing when the VA can and cannot order a veteran back for a psychiatric reevaluation, an issue with direct consequences for benefits and ratings.

The US Department of Veterans Affairs has opened registration for the 2026 National Veterans Small Business Engagement conference. The annual event connects veteran-owned small businesses with federal agencies, prime contractors and resource partners to pursue contracting opportunities. Veterans interested in growing their businesses through government contracting can now sign up ahead of the conference.

Jennifer G. Flynn is named in connection with VA Southern Arizona Health Care, the Department of Veterans Affairs health care system serving veterans in southern Arizona. The reference appears on the department's official website, which lists leadership and staff contacts across its regional facilities. No further details about her role or any announcement are given, and there is no indication of a specific event driving attention beyond the listing itself.