Originally published: 2026-01-15T21:45:00+00:00. Historical source article: benefits, rules, amounts and deadlines may have changed. Check the official source for current information.
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs today announced it has established a commission to find candidates to lead the Veterans Benefits Administration. VA Deputy Secretary Paul R. Lawrence, Ph.D., will chair the commission.
The commission will help VA find candidates for the department’s Under Secretary for Benefits position and is a prerequisite to the president’s nomination of a candidate, subject to Senate confirmation, for the role.
The search comes at a crucial time for the department, as it is vastly improving VA services for Veterans, families, caregivers and survivors. Successful accomplishments and milestones reached during the second Trump Administration so far include:
- The backlog of Veterans waiting for VA benefits is down 60% since Jan. 20, 2025, after it increased 24% during the Biden Administration.
- VA has opened 25 new health care clinics, expanding access for Vets around the country.
- VA has eliminated the backlog of Veteran families waiting for VA health care.
- VA permanently housed 51,936 homeless Veterans across the country in FY25, the highest total in seven years.
- VA is spending an additional $800 million on infrastructure improvements to ensure department facilities provide safe and effective patient care.
- VA has terminated union contracts for most bargaining unit employees and redirected millions in wasteful union spending back to Veterans.
- VA is accelerating the deployment of its integrated electronic health record system, after the program was nearly dormant for almost two years under the Biden Administration.
About the Under Secretary for Benefits Position
The USB directs the timely delivery of VA benefits and services for eligible Veterans, family members, caregivers, and survivors. The USB is responsible for ensuring accurate disability and pension claims decisions, managing educational benefits for Veterans and dependents, managing the home loan guaranty program, overseeing vocational rehabilitation and counseling for disabled Veterans, administering VA Life Insurance programs, bolstering the transition support available from military to civilian lif,e and accelerating the economic empowerment and independence of servicemembers and Veterans.
Learn more about the position here.
Source: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Its Veterans is an independent publication and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the U.S. government.
