After previous partial shutdowns caused headaches for the VA, the department lobbied Congress to fund the VA on a two-year budget cycle. That exempts the department from the latest funding skirmish in Washington.
About 4 percent of the department's workforce — nearly 16,000 workers — would be subject to furloughs during a shutdown, with almost half of that total coming from the Veterans Benefits Administration, according to Navy Times.
Veterans would still get checks during a shutdown, but some education benefit programs would cease as well as the hearing of case appeals.
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