About the Department - U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Source: https://www.va.gov/about_va/vahistory.asp
Archived: 2026-04-23 17:34
About the Department - U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
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About the Department
Our Mission: To fulfill President Lincoln’s promise to care for those who have served in our nation’s military and for their families, caregivers, and survivors.
About the Department
Department of Veterans Affairs (smw)
2026-02-25T15:33:13-05:00
Office of the Secretary
Douglas A. Collins
Secretary of Veterans Affairs
The Secretary of Veterans Affairs oversees VA in its mission to provide health, education, disability, funerary, and financial benefits earned by
V
eterans of the United States Armed Forces.
Paul R. Lawrence
Performing the Delegable Duties of the Assistant Secretary for Information and Technology and Chief Information Officer
The Deputy Secretary of Veterans Affairs is the second-highest-ranking officer and serves as the Chief Operating Officer.
Curt Cashour
Chief of Staff
The VA Chief of Staff serves as the top advisor to the Secretary and helps guide all aspects of the department’s operations.
Department Information
Secretary of Veterans Affairs
Deputy Secretary of Veterans Affairs
Administrations and Offices
Programs and Initiatives
History of the Department
Senior Staff Biographies
VA plans, budget, finances, and performance
OMB Reporting
Veterans legacy program
VA Privacy Program
Media Information
Office of Public and Intergovernmental Affairs
VA News Releases
VA News and Information
Veteran Benefits
VA.gov
ChooseVA
State Departments of Veterans Affairs office locations
Patient Rights at VA facilities
Popular online VA resources
My HealtheVet
Refill and track your prescriptions
Check your claim or appeal status
Mental health
State Departments of Veterans Affairs office locations
Resources and support
VA health care
VA disability compensation
VA education and training benefits
VA medical records
VA mobile apps
Your VA payment history
Reach – Get support and resources
Contact us
You can call the VA’s main information line at
800-698-2411
(TTY: 711) or use one of the
other contact methods
available.
Use Ask
VA
to send us your questions, updates, and documents online.
Contact us online through Ask VA
Media inquiries should be directed to the Office of Media Relations at
vapublicaffairs@va.gov
Explore your benefits
VA offers benefits that can help Veterans buy, retain, or modify a home; earn a degree; start a career; stay healthy, and do much more in life after the military.
Explore Your Benefits
Our Missions
In addition to our primary mission, VA carries out four specific missions to make good on our commitment to Veterans and other beneficiaries.
Veterans Health Care
VA’s
Veterans Health Administration
is the largest integrated health care network in the United States, with 1,255 health care facilities serving 9 million enrolled Veterans each year.
Veterans Benefits
Veterans can earn a range of benefits that help them transition back to civilian life in the country they fought to defend. Through the
Veterans Benefits Administration
, VA helps service members transition out of military service, and assists with education, home loans, life insurance and much more.
National Cemeteries
The job of the
National Cemetery Administration
is to make sure those who served this nation are never forgotten. NCA provides dignified burial services for Veterans and eligible family members by maintaining more than 150 cemeteries as national shrines and provides digital memorialization at the
Veterans Legacy Memorial
to commemorate their legacy, service and sacrifice to our nation.
The Fourth Mission
VA’s “Fourth Mission” is to improve the Nation’s
preparedness
for response to war, terrorism, national emergencies, and natural disasters by developing plans and taking actions to ensure continued service to Veterans, as well as to support national, state, and local emergency management, public health, safety and homeland security efforts.
Our Core Values – ICARE
Integrity:
Act with high moral principle. Adhere to the highest professional standards. Maintain the trust and confidence of all with whom I engage.
Commitment:
Work diligently to serve Veterans and other beneficiaries. Be driven by an earnest belief in VA’s mission. Fulfill my individual responsibilities and organizational responsibilities.
Advocacy:
Be truly Veteran-centric by identifying, fully considering, and appropriately advancing the interests of Veterans and other beneficiaries.
Respect:
Treat all those I serve and with whom I work with dignity and respect. Show respect to earn it.
Excellence:
Strive for the highest quality and continuous improvement. Be thoughtful and decisive in leadership, accountable for my actions, willing to admit mistakes, and rigorous in correcting them.
More about VA’s Core Values and Characteristics »
VA Milestones
1989
On March 15, VA became the 14th Department in the President’s Cabinet.
1988
Legislation to elevate VA to Cabinet status was signed by President Reagan.
1973
The National Cemetery System (except for Arlington National Cemetery) was transferred by the Army to VA.
1953
The Department of Veterans Benefits was established, succeeded in 1989 by the Veterans Benefits Administration.
1946
The Department of Medicine and Surgery was established, succeeded in 1989 by the Veterans Health Services and Research Administration, and renamed the Veterans Health Administration in 1991.
1944
On June 22, President Roosevelt signed the “Servicemen’s Readjustment Act of 1944” (Public Law 346, passed unanimously by the 78th Congress), offering home loan and education benefits to Veterans.
1933
The Board of Veterans Appeals was established.
1930
The Veterans Administration was created by Executive Order 5398, signed by President Herbert Hoover on July 21, 1930. At that time, there were 54 hospitals, 4.7 million living Veterans, and 31,600 employees.
We’re here anytime, day or night - 24/7
If you are a Veteran in crisis
or concerned about one, connect with our caring, qualified responders for confidential help. Many of
them are Veterans themselves.
Call
988 and press
1
Text to
838255
Chat
confidentially now
Call TTY if you
have hearing loss
1-800-799-4889
Get more resources at
VeteransCrisisLine.net
.
OPR
: Office of Public and Intergovernmental Affairs (OPIA)
Date last updated February 25, 2026
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Explore Benefits and Services
Disability
Veterans may benefit from disability compensation. Learn about and apply for VA disability benefits.
Education and training
VA benefits can help Veterans further their education and get career training. Learn more and apply for VA benefits today.
Careers and employment
VA can help you transition from service to civilian jobs. Learn more about VA job-seeking tools and training benefits.
Health care
VA provides world-class health care to eligible Veterans. Learn more about eligibility and apply for VA health care.
Housing assistance
If you’re a Veteran looking for home loans and housing information, learn more about VA housing-related assistance.
Life insurance
VA provides life insurance coverage to eligible Veterans and their families. Learn more about eligibility and apply for coverage.
Burials and memorials
VA offers burial services to Veterans, their spouses, and dependents at no charge. Apply for VA benefits.
Pensions
VA provides pensions to eligible Veterans and their survivors. Learn more about eligibility and apply for VA pension benefits.
Family members
VA offers benefits to spouses, dependents, and survivors of service members and Veterans. Learn more and apply.
Go to Top
Skip to content
Talk to the Veterans Crisis Line now
Official websites use .gov
A
.gov
website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A
lock
(
) or
https://
means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.
About the Department
Our Mission: To fulfill President Lincoln’s promise to care for those who have served in our nation’s military and for their families, caregivers, and survivors.
About the Department
Department of Veterans Affairs (smw)
2026-02-25T15:33:13-05:00
Office of the Secretary
Douglas A. Collins
Secretary of Veterans Affairs
The Secretary of Veterans Affairs oversees VA in its mission to provide health, education, disability, funerary, and financial benefits earned by
V
eterans of the United States Armed Forces.
Paul R. Lawrence
Performing the Delegable Duties of the Assistant Secretary for Information and Technology and Chief Information Officer
The Deputy Secretary of Veterans Affairs is the second-highest-ranking officer and serves as the Chief Operating Officer.
Curt Cashour
Chief of Staff
The VA Chief of Staff serves as the top advisor to the Secretary and helps guide all aspects of the department’s operations.
Department Information
Secretary of Veterans Affairs
Deputy Secretary of Veterans Affairs
Administrations and Offices
Programs and Initiatives
History of the Department
Senior Staff Biographies
VA plans, budget, finances, and performance
OMB Reporting
Veterans legacy program
VA Privacy Program
Media Information
Office of Public and Intergovernmental Affairs
VA News Releases
VA News and Information
Veteran Benefits
VA.gov
ChooseVA
State Departments of Veterans Affairs office locations
Patient Rights at VA facilities
Popular online VA resources
My HealtheVet
Refill and track your prescriptions
Check your claim or appeal status
Mental health
State Departments of Veterans Affairs office locations
Resources and support
VA health care
VA disability compensation
VA education and training benefits
VA medical records
VA mobile apps
Your VA payment history
Reach – Get support and resources
Contact us
You can call the VA’s main information line at
800-698-2411
(TTY: 711) or use one of the
other contact methods
available.
Use Ask
VA
to send us your questions, updates, and documents online.
Contact us online through Ask VA
Media inquiries should be directed to the Office of Media Relations at
vapublicaffairs@va.gov
Explore your benefits
VA offers benefits that can help Veterans buy, retain, or modify a home; earn a degree; start a career; stay healthy, and do much more in life after the military.
Explore Your Benefits
Our Missions
In addition to our primary mission, VA carries out four specific missions to make good on our commitment to Veterans and other beneficiaries.
Veterans Health Care
VA’s
Veterans Health Administration
is the largest integrated health care network in the United States, with 1,255 health care facilities serving 9 million enrolled Veterans each year.
Veterans Benefits
Veterans can earn a range of benefits that help them transition back to civilian life in the country they fought to defend. Through the
Veterans Benefits Administration
, VA helps service members transition out of military service, and assists with education, home loans, life insurance and much more.
National Cemeteries
The job of the
National Cemetery Administration
is to make sure those who served this nation are never forgotten. NCA provides dignified burial services for Veterans and eligible family members by maintaining more than 150 cemeteries as national shrines and provides digital memorialization at the
Veterans Legacy Memorial
to commemorate their legacy, service and sacrifice to our nation.
The Fourth Mission
VA’s “Fourth Mission” is to improve the Nation’s
preparedness
for response to war, terrorism, national emergencies, and natural disasters by developing plans and taking actions to ensure continued service to Veterans, as well as to support national, state, and local emergency management, public health, safety and homeland security efforts.
Our Core Values – ICARE
Integrity:
Act with high moral principle. Adhere to the highest professional standards. Maintain the trust and confidence of all with whom I engage.
Commitment:
Work diligently to serve Veterans and other beneficiaries. Be driven by an earnest belief in VA’s mission. Fulfill my individual responsibilities and organizational responsibilities.
Advocacy:
Be truly Veteran-centric by identifying, fully considering, and appropriately advancing the interests of Veterans and other beneficiaries.
Respect:
Treat all those I serve and with whom I work with dignity and respect. Show respect to earn it.
Excellence:
Strive for the highest quality and continuous improvement. Be thoughtful and decisive in leadership, accountable for my actions, willing to admit mistakes, and rigorous in correcting them.
More about VA’s Core Values and Characteristics »
VA Milestones
1989
On March 15, VA became the 14th Department in the President’s Cabinet.
1988
Legislation to elevate VA to Cabinet status was signed by President Reagan.
1973
The National Cemetery System (except for Arlington National Cemetery) was transferred by the Army to VA.
1953
The Department of Veterans Benefits was established, succeeded in 1989 by the Veterans Benefits Administration.
1946
The Department of Medicine and Surgery was established, succeeded in 1989 by the Veterans Health Services and Research Administration, and renamed the Veterans Health Administration in 1991.
1944
On June 22, President Roosevelt signed the “Servicemen’s Readjustment Act of 1944” (Public Law 346, passed unanimously by the 78th Congress), offering home loan and education benefits to Veterans.
1933
The Board of Veterans Appeals was established.
1930
The Veterans Administration was created by Executive Order 5398, signed by President Herbert Hoover on July 21, 1930. At that time, there were 54 hospitals, 4.7 million living Veterans, and 31,600 employees.
We’re here anytime, day or night - 24/7
If you are a Veteran in crisis
or concerned about one, connect with our caring, qualified responders for confidential help. Many of
them are Veterans themselves.
Call
988 and press
1
Text to
838255
Chat
confidentially now
Call TTY if you
have hearing loss
1-800-799-4889
Get more resources at
VeteransCrisisLine.net
.
OPR
: Office of Public and Intergovernmental Affairs (OPIA)
Date last updated February 25, 2026
Close Sliding Bar Area
Page load link
Explore Benefits and Services
Disability
Veterans may benefit from disability compensation. Learn about and apply for VA disability benefits.
Education and training
VA benefits can help Veterans further their education and get career training. Learn more and apply for VA benefits today.
Careers and employment
VA can help you transition from service to civilian jobs. Learn more about VA job-seeking tools and training benefits.
Health care
VA provides world-class health care to eligible Veterans. Learn more about eligibility and apply for VA health care.
Housing assistance
If you’re a Veteran looking for home loans and housing information, learn more about VA housing-related assistance.
Life insurance
VA provides life insurance coverage to eligible Veterans and their families. Learn more about eligibility and apply for coverage.
Burials and memorials
VA offers burial services to Veterans, their spouses, and dependents at no charge. Apply for VA benefits.
Pensions
VA provides pensions to eligible Veterans and their survivors. Learn more about eligibility and apply for VA pension benefits.
Family members
VA offers benefits to spouses, dependents, and survivors of service members and Veterans. Learn more and apply.
Go to Top