NewsBytes September 4, 2026

In this issue:
Volunteer Corps Down 80 Percent
EHR Costs Reach $48 Billion
House Passes Stopgap Funding
Pentagon Pulls Screening Guidance
Navy Charges Overboard Sailor

Volunteer Corps Down 80 Percent
During the 80th annual session of the Department of Veterans Affairs Voluntary Service (VAVS) National Advisory Committee, held September 2 and 3 at the Orlando VA Healthcare System's Lake Nona campus in Orlando, Florida, officials disclosed that the VA's volunteer force has fallen from roughly 109,000 volunteers a decade ago to just 24,600 regularly scheduled volunteers today, an 80 percent collapse. Despite the decline, volunteers contributed more than 3.3 million service hours and $72.7 million in donations last year, providing an estimated $194.2 million in economic value. Committee members reported that the steep drop is driven largely by onboarding friction, including a new Tier 1 background screening mandate that creates severe administrative delays and turns away prospective volunteers before their first shift. FRA Director of Legislative Programs Theo Lawson and Auxiliary Past National Chaplain Dorothy Smiley attended the session in person.

To reverse these losses, the committee voted to recommend rolling back the Tier 1 background screening mandate for non-network volunteers to the former Special Agreement Check process, extending fingerprint credential validity from six months to two years, and streamlining local center purchasing approvals. The committee identified the most critical need for FY2027 as recruiting volunteer transportation drivers for rural veterans through the new "Will You Be My Driver" initiative. When drivers are unavailable, rural veterans miss appointments, which leads to interrupted care, delayed diagnoses, and incomplete medical records that can undermine future disability claims.

The FRA strongly urges Shipmates near a VA medical center or community clinic to sign up as volunteers and, more importantly, volunteer transportation drivers at volunteer.va.gov. Driving a fellow veteran to care is a direct service our membership can provide without waiting on congressional action, and it reaches the rural veterans who live furthest from medical facilities. Local FRA branches are also encouraged to support student volunteers by contributing to the James H. Parke Memorial Scholarship Fund (c/o Ann Glende, 520 Spring Street, Elsmere, KY 41018).

EHR Costs Reach $48 Billion
During a contentious House Veterans' Affairs Committee hearing, lawmakers pressed Department of Veterans Affairs leadership on why the estimated lifecycle cost of the Electronic Health Record Modernization (EHRM) program has grown to roughly $48 billion, nearly five times the original $10 billion contract ceiling established in 2018. Testimony showed that the VA has expanded its maximum contract value with software provider Oracle to $27 billion, with total deployment and sustainment costs projected to reach $48 billion through 2031.

VA Deputy Secretary Paul Lawrence defended the expanded contract ceiling, noting that complex data migration, IT infrastructure upgrades, hosting, and managed services required increased funding commitments. Lawmakers from both sides of the aisle nonetheless expressed frustration over the cost escalation, deployment delays, and reports from clinical staff who felt inadequately trained on the new system. Despite the scrutiny, the VA confirmed that it remains committed to expanding deployment sites, with major rollouts scheduled in Cleveland and Anchorage in October 2026.

The FRA continues to demand strict congressional oversight and fiscal accountability for VA health IT programs. Modernizing electronic health records is critical for active-duty Sailors, Marines, and Coast Guardsmen transitioning into veteran care, but uncontrolled cost overruns must not threaten direct healthcare delivery or front-line clinical staffing. The Association urges the VA and Congress to prioritize clinical stability and user training so that our Shipmates receive seamless, high-quality care.

House Passes Stopgap Funding
The House of Representatives passed a short-term spending bill by a vote of 370 to 48, staving off a federal government shutdown and sending the measure to the White House for signature. Passed ahead of the September 30 fiscal deadline, the stopgap resolution funds federal agencies, including the Department of Defense and the Department of Veterans Affairs, generally at current operational levels through December 11, 2026.

The legislation ensures that military pay, healthcare operations, and veteran benefit distributions will continue without interruption through the upcoming midterm election cycle. House Appropriations Committee leadership emphasized that the temporary measure gives Congress the time it needs to negotiate full-year appropriations while giving service members and military families operational certainty.

The FRA welcomes passage of the stopgap funding measure to keep the government and military pay systems operational. Operating under temporary spending measures is not ideal for long-term defense procurement, but avoiding a shutdown safeguards active-duty paychecks, keeps commissaries open, and protects VA health services for our sea service personnel and their families.

Pentagon Pulls Screening Guidance
One day after issuing comprehensive clinical guidelines for mandatory testosterone deficiency screening during annual military health assessments, the Department of Defense temporarily rescinded the guidance to allow for further administrative and clinical updates. The original memorandum, signed by the Defense Health Agency on September 2, laid out distinct screening pathways for both male and female service members to identify and treat hormonal imbalances affecting military readiness.

The initial guidance proposed routine questionnaire screenings for men aged 30 and older, with follow-on blood testing and potential hormone replacement therapy, and it established separate criteria for female service members diagnosed with conditions such as Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder. Defense officials confirmed that the draft document was taken down for updates and that interim screening protocols remain active while the agency refines the policy.

The FRA supports evidence-based health policies that strengthen force readiness and warfighter health. The Association will monitor the Defense Health Agency's updated guidance to ensure that hormone health screenings remain safe, effective, and accessible across the joint force.

Navy Charges Overboard Sailor
The Navy is facing criticism from military advocates and lawmakers after moving to charge a 19-year-old Sailor who jumped overboard from the USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) in an apparent suicide attempt. According to charging documents reviewed by media outlets, the Navy charged the Sailor under Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) Article 83 (Malingering) and Article 86 (Absence Without Leave) following the August 3 incident in the Middle East.

The Sailor's family stated that he had repeatedly sought mental health support and requested paternity leave following the birth of his daughter, and that both requests were denied before his crisis. Rep. Sara Jacobs (D-CA) called for increased oversight, stating that no service member should face punishment for experiencing a mental health emergency. The case comes amid mounting congressional concern about crew fatigue and living conditions aboard the Lincoln following an extended nine-month Middle East deployment.

The FRA maintains that a Sailor in crisis must be met with clinical care, not disciplinary action. Operational discipline is vital to shipboard safety, but subjecting Sailors who survive acute mental health crises to punitive measures discourages warfighters from seeking help when they need it most. The Association urges Navy leadership to prioritize mental health resources, ensure transparent command oversight, and uphold the "Sacred Trust" for all deployed personnel.