Today Trump will deliver remarks about supporting veterans and military families. What Trump won’t discuss is how his Department of Veterans Affairs has put tens of thousands of veterans at risk because of a backlog in GI Bill benefits.
Here are real stories of veterans hurt by delays in GI Bill payments:
“‘I’m about to lose everything that I own and become homeless,’ Roundtree said. ‘I don’t want to be that veteran on the street begging for change because I haven’t received what I was promised.’” – U.S. Army veteran Shelley Roundtree
“Honestly, from my perspective, there was a kind of a lack of care, a lack of… some mismanagement.” – Marine veteran Ciaban Caneles Peterson
“It’s live or die for them, if they’re not getting those payments, which I’m not really sure why the federal government or the GI Bill benefits aren’t receiving these payments.” – Garrett Anderson, Chez Center for Wounded Veterans in Higher Education
“‘It affects their mood, their disposition because they’re worried about having a roof over their head,’ he said. ‘It’s just setting people up to fail and they shouldn’t have to worry about that as veterans. They’re going to school to further their education, to contribute the community and they shouldn’t have to worry if they’re going to get paid by the GI Bill.’” – Marine veteran Sean Delaire
“The financial impact on these students is real,’ Reed said. ‘Some are in jeopardy of losing their home or their rental. Some have had to decide whether to buy books or get groceries for the week. They’re worried about making their childcare payments.’” – Casey Reed, director of Military and Veteran Programs at Olympic College
“When the money didn’t show up for a few weeks, he felt the pinch outside of the classroom as well. ‘I built the benefits I was going to get in my budget,’ Jose said. ‘I own a brick-and-mortar small business, and my margins aren’t very big, so I have to budget almost everything.’” – Air Force veteran and small business owner Daniel Jose