In 2021, before the implementation of the PACT Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) approved around 280,000 claims for veterans who were exposed to toxic agents during service. Following the enactment of this bill, the number of claims reached 1.7 million, with over 1.1 million being approved by the department. While much of this progress can be attributed to the PACT Act, which removed the burden of proving causality for veterans, the VA also underwent other changes, resulting in an increased approval rate for claims submitted.
Alongside this Act, the diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiative was expanded, focusing on providing tailored cultural awareness and training for VA staff. These initiatives were implemented across veteran services, including in claims processing systems, and VA healthcare organisations, as well as support services offered to veterans and their family members, such as college programs, mental health resources, and housing assistance. Now, pending budget cuts initiated by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), all DEI initiatives are to be terminated.
Nonetheless, the federal government warns that all organisations under VA leadership must comply with federal regulations regarding diversity, equity, and inclusion. Indeed, the existence of federal policies that prevent discrimination makes DEI initiatives seem redundant. The VA is also expected to save around $6.1 million annually by eliminating DEI structures. In line with the budget planning for 2026, the VA will use these funds to enhance services for veterans, including the provision of healthcare.
However, despite existing policies against discrimination, a substantial part of this social behaviour is triggered by unconscious bias, also referred to as implicit bias, whereby staff may exhibit behaviors or trigger actions that are discriminatory, without intention or awareness. Research to date suggests that this is a systemic issue within the VA, despite efforts to mitigate its effects. For example, data collected and analysed before the implementation of the PACT Act and structured DEI initiatives show that, on average, claims made by veterans from an ethnic minority group were 14% more likely to be rejected when compared to claims made by White veterans. A 75% increase in the number of claims approved for ethnic minority veterans was recorded following the implementation of the PACT Act and DEI initiatives.
Additional data collected from the medical system demonstrate that ethnic minority veterans, as well as women veterans, encounter discrimination and biases when seeking service. When having a negative experience of healthcare, these people tend to avoid new encounters, be less likely to adhere to prescribed regimes, or withhold vital information from their healthcare provider. As a result, people who perceive being discriminated against or treated unfairly based on their gender, race, or other type of group identity will also experience poorer health outcomes. Education and awareness are among the most effective ways to address the unconscious bias that produces inequity and inequality within a system. Removing DEI may, therefore, buffer out the progress obtained so far.
Impact of DEI Removal on Veterans
Almost 16 million veterans lived in the U.S. in 2023, including ethnic minority groups and women veterans. The termination of DEI programs may have a disproportionate effect on this population without targeted oversight and culturally informed protocols.
Presently, the PACT Act offers direct compensation and health care for various conditions developed as a result of toxic exposure, including exposure to asbestos, radiation, and burning pits. Notably, new toxic agents are considered by the VA, and compensation is provided outside of the PACT Act presumption. Many of these chemicals are being used with increased frequency by the U.S. military. This will most likely result in new generations of veterans seeking claims for the effects of toxic exposure.
Similar to the current veteran population, the next generation of veterans will also include a growing number of ethnic minorities and women. For upholding the VA’s commitment to justice and care for all who have served, ensuring that these veterans have equal access to compensation and healthcare is essential.
