How are Kansas veterans being impacted by the government shutdown?

TOPEKA (KSNT) — We’re now one full week into the government shutdown, and we’re learning more about how veteran services are being impacted here in Kansas.

We spoke with Bill Turner, the Director of the Kansas Department of Veteran Services. He confirmed to us that several federal services have stopped as a result of the government shutdown.

However, state services have remained unchanged and fully operational. This includes state veteran homes, cemeteries and service representatives.

The federal services that are normally available to Kansans will be closed until the shutdown ends. As detailed on the Department of Veteran Services website, here is a detailed list of federal services that will/will not be impacted by the shutdown:

Services not impacted by shutdown:

• VA Medical Centers, Outpatient Clinics, and Vet Centers will be open as usual and providing all services.
• VA benefits will continue to be processed and delivered, including compensation, pension, education, and housing benefits.
• Burials will continue at VA national cemeteries. Applications for headstones, markers, and burial benefits processing will continue.
• The Board of Veterans’ Appeals will continue decisions on Veterans’ cases.
• Call Centers: VA’s primary call center and the Veterans Crisis Line will remain open 24/7. The VA Benefit Hotline will be available Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. ET.
• Suicide prevention programs, homelessness services, and caregiver support will continue.

Services impacted by shutdown:

• VA will cease providing transition program assistance and career counseling.
• Call Centers: VA’s GI Bill and National Cemetery Applicant Assistance hotlines will be closed.
• VA benefits regional offices will be closed.
• Public Affairs and unfunded outreach to Veterans will cease, including social media, Vet Resources emails, and responses to press inquiries.
• No grounds maintenance or placement of permanent headstones at VA cemeteries.
• Applications for pre-need burial at VA cemeteries will not be processed.
• No printing of new Presidential Memorial Certificates.
• No outreach to state, county, tribal, municipal, faith-based, and community-based partners by VA Central Office.

We asked Eric Rohleder, the Deputy Director of the Kansas Office of Veteran Services, if the state has fielded calls from concerned veterans. He replied with, “absolutely.”

However, the department is confident that they will remain helpful to Kansas veterans.

Bill Turner, the Executive Director of the Kansas Office of Veteran Services tells us, “I’m proud of all that our team has done, particularly in that veteran service arena in terms of stepping up to take care of veterans throughout the state.”

The government spending bill that would end the shutdown is still being discussed in the U.S Senate.

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