You may have heard of Project 2025 — you may not have. This proposal by a conservative group called The Heritage Foundation takes aim at many political and economic issues that include the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) disability benefits and additional veterans benefits. While this proposal is not certain to be put in place, many veterans want to know — how would Project 2025 affect VA benefits? VA Benefits Attorneys is here to help.

What Is Project 2025?

Project 2025 is a political and economic agenda created and proposed by The Heritage Foundation — a group of conservative organizations. The blueprint was published in April 2023 and it puts forward a list of policy suggestions that are expected to be put into action in the event of a Republican being elected President in 2024. The policy blueprint impacts many aspects of government — border security, oversight of government organizations, energy production, reducing inflation, cutting spending, and veterans benefits — in an effort to make the government more efficient.

How Does the Project 2025 Proposal Impact Veterans Benefits? 

The bulk of the policies proposed by Project 2025 that would impact veterans and their benefits are focused on streamlining the disability application process, increased privatization, and updating eligibility requirements — but that is not all of it.

Here is a better look at different aspects of Project 2025 that would affect veterans if the policy is implemented.

1. Automate and Streamline the Application Process

A key element of Project 2025 is the automation of the VA disability application and claims processes to help make the process more efficient and note inconsistencies in claims. This aspect of the proposal includes the option for private contractors to conduct Compensation and Pension exams to address the backlog of claims.

2. Reassess Disability Ratings

Project 2025 proposes that veteran disability ratings be reassessed and processed more frequently to reduce costs and still be fair to veterans in need of disability payments. This potential change could lead to changes to VA disability ratings for more than 900 service-connected disabilities and many veterans are concerned that this would lead to reduced benefits. 

3. Public Reporting of Performance Metrics

Veterans and the public deserve to know how and if government entities like the Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) are meeting goals and expectations. Public reporting of this data is a key element of Project 2025 that is meant to encourage transparency and help identify areas for improvement.

4. Technology Integration

Project 2025 aims to integrate next-generation technology into the VA claims process like advanced data management systems and AI to make the system more efficient. Pilot programs like Express 30 are a part of the blueprint as well. Express 30 is a proposed program meant to process veteran disability claims within 30 days. 

5. Reduce Fraud

Project 2025 includes an initiative to reduce fraud and improper payments. The proposal estimates that $500 million each year involves improper and fraudulent payments and aims to cut those costs and reduce errors. This is expected to be achieved by stricter verification processes, data analysis used to detect fraud, and changes to regulations.

6. Working with the Private Sector

The Project 2025 blueprint includes a proposal to increase knowledge exchanges with the private sector. In the past, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and the Veterans Benefits Administration were strictly government run, but collaboration with private sector businesses would encourage them to be more efficient and effective.

7. Change in Leadership and Culture

There is a general consensus within Project 2025 that federal veterans organizations are in need of a cultural shift and change in leadership. The change would be put in place to shift veterans organizations to a more modern and technological way of thinking — which may include new leadership that has a reputation for using innovation to drive success.

8. Workforce Development

Project 2025 proposes workforce reform and development within the VA to improve efficiency and reduce bottlenecks in the application and claims processes. The blueprint involves a flexible workforce that employs federal employees as well as private contractors and an acquisition workforce that proposes contracts with successful private companies to increase capabilities. 

READ MORE: Predicted Trends for 2025 VA Disability Claims

Veterans who are interested in the future of their disability benefits want to know — how would Project 2025 affect VA disability benefits? We hope that this overview created by the VA Benefits Attorneys Team will answer your questions and keep you informed.

Contact VA Benefits Attorneys today for a FREE case review!