VA delays mean big paydays for lawyers. Can Congress change that?

The House Appropriations Committee may have finally given veterans and taxpayers the chance to see whether high-priced lawyers are helping service members get Department of Veterans Affairs benefits — or whether they are fleecing everyone for hundreds of millions of dollars.

In late April, committee Members voted 58-0 to approve a fiscal 2027 budget for veterans. There is a lot here for veterans to celebrate, but one of the most important provisions is buried deep in a nearly 100-page report accompanying the bill. On page 29, under the heading, “attorney fees,” the committee directs the VA to deliver a report on “the aggregate costs associated with veterans and dependents obtaining attorney representation in VA appeals.”