Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity and Subcommittee on Technology Modernization Oversight Hearing

The House Committee on Veterans' Affairs held a joint oversight hearing by the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity and the Subcommittee on Technology Modernization to examine the challenges and failures of the Department of Veterans Affairs' (VA) Digital GI Bill (DGIB) program. The hearing focused on the program's significant cost overruns, ballooning from an initial $453 million estimate to over $2 billion, and the delays in delivering education benefits to veterans, which have caused real hardships such as missed housing payments and financial instability for student veterans. Witnesses from the VA, Accenture Federal Services (the contractor), MITER Corporation (providing acquisition and program support), and Veterans Education Success testified about the program's progress, challenges, and systemic issues in VA's acquisition and modernization efforts. Key issues discussed included poor contract management, inadequate planning, lack of accountability, insufficient communication with veterans during critical delays, and the need for acquisition reform and improved cost estimating capabilities. The hearing underscored the urgent need for better oversight, clearer accountability, and more effective procurement strategies to ensure veterans receive timely and reliable benefits while safeguarding taxpayer funds.