By Brett Rowland
The Center Square

Nearly 37,000 Department of Veterans Affairs employees have been furloughed or are working without pay as the prolonged government shutdown continues and some VA services go dark.

VA Secretary Doug Collins on Thursday again called for an end to the shutdown. It marks the second time this month Collins has called for Congress to reopen the government.

“The Democrats’ government shutdown is limiting services for veterans and making life miserable for VA employees, and things are only going to get worse as time goes on,” Collins said in a statement.

The department’s medical centers, clinics and Vet Centers remain open because the VA gets some advance funding from Congress. In addition, VA benefits continue to be processed and delivered, including compensation, pension, education and housing benefits. Burials also continue at VA national cemeteries.

However, some VA services have been stopped due to the congressional funding lapse. For example, the GI Bill Hotline, which helps veterans get assistance related to education and training, has been shut down. About 900,000 veterans use the hotline, the department said.

More than 100,000 enrolled veterans can’t get Veteran Readiness and Employment program counseling or case management services because the employees have been furloughed. The Veteran Readiness and Employment services help with job training, education, employment accommodations, resume development, and job-seeking skills coaching. Veteran Readiness and Employment services also help veterans starting their own businesses or with independent living services for those who are severely disabled and unable to work. The backlog of new applicants for the program stood at 61,988 on Thursday. That is expected to grow daily as the shutdown continues with no end in sight.

In addition, 56 VA regional benefits offices are closed to the public. The VA’s Manila regional office is in the process of permanently closing because its authority to operate expired Sept. 30.

A key transition service from the military to the VA has also been closed due to the funding lapse. That means more than 16,000 service members who are preparing to leave the military can’t get VA transition briefings. In the meantime, transitioning service members will continue to have online access to the full content of the TAP briefing.

While burials continue at VA national cemeteries, 157 VA national cemeteries were required to pause grounds maintenance and placing permanent headstones.

“It’s time for Democrats to stop using the suffering of Americans as political leverage to give free health care to illegal immigrants,” Collins said in a statement. “I call on them to open the government and enable VA to provide the complete and comprehensive services America’s Veterans, families, caregivers and survivors have earned.”

Republicans and Democrats have blamed each other for the funding lapse and shutdown, which started on Oct. 1.

Typically, federal employees who are furloughed get back pay when the government reopens.