Millions for veterans sat unspent for 3 years and now it may be too late

http://hamptonroads.com/2015/06/millions-veterans-sat-unspent-3-years-and-now-it-may-be-too-late

Millions for veterans sat unspent for 3 years and now it may be too late
By Lisa Rein
The Washington Post
© June 27, 2015

WASHINGTON

For three years, more than $43 million the Department of Veterans Affairs had set aside to inform veterans about their benefits sat in an account, not a penny spent, until an agency financial manager happened to notice.

By then, it may have become too late for the cash-strapped agency to spend the money, a new report says.

The Inspector General's office, in a report issued last week, cited a "breakdown of fiscal controls" and "lack of oversight" in concluding that VA officials had "no need" for the $43.1 million. At least not for the purpose they claimed, which was to print personalized handbooks that explain in detail what benefits a veteran is eligible for.

Acting Inspector General Richard Griffin's audit comes as top VA officials prepare to tell House lawmakers Thursday that they're facing a $2.6 billion budget shortfall that's partly responsible for a new explosion in wait times for medical care. Senior leaders say they may have to start a hiring freeze or furlough employees unless funding is reallocated for the federal government's second-largest agency.