VA, DOJ expand legal authority to improve health care for veterans

WASHINGTON – The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and Department of Justice (DOJ) have signed a memo of understanding (MOU) that will pave the way for the government to improve care for veterans, the agencies say. The MOU gives the DOJ the authority to appoint VA attorneys as special assistant U.S. attorneys, giving them the legal authority to initiate and participate in state court guardianship or conservatorship proceedings in cases where a legal decision-maker is required for post-acute transitions of care for veterans. “The Department of Justice is proud to partner with the Department of Veterans Affairs to support our nation's brave veterans by ensuring that they have the best legal resources available when it comes to making medical decisions and receiving timely care,” said Attorney General Pam Bondi. “We owe our veterans a debt we can never fully repay – but we can give them the support they deserve.” Among other things, a legal guardian or conservator can help veterans avoid unwarranted continued hospitalization, protect their rights, and promote appropriate transitions of care from VA hospitalization to other forms of VA care or care in the community, if appropriate. The Trump administration says this is the latest move it has made to improve benefits and services for veterans:

• It has completed 82,083,918 direct care appointments in FY2025, up 4.1% from FY2024.
• It has offered veterans more than 2.2 million appointments outside of normal operating hours. These early-morning, evening and weekend appointments are giving veterans more timely and convenient options for care.
• It has opened 33 new health care clinics during the second Trump Administration, expanding health care access for veterans around the country.
• It has reduced the backlog of veterans waiting for VA benefits by 64% (vs. 24% during the Biden Administration).