In this testimony before a Joint House Veterans’ Affairs Subcommittee, we explain how the Digital GI Bill rollout and prior VA modernization efforts repeatedly disrupted education benefit payments, leaving student veterans and survivors struggling to cover rent, food, and basic expenses. We show these failures are part of a long pattern of poor timing, inadequate testing, and breakdowns in communication. We conclude by calling for five practical reforms:

  1.  Treat education benefits delivery as an essential function
  2. Require rigorous testing and independent certification before system changes go live
  3. Mandate early, plain-language notice to students, schools, and Congress when payment risks arise
  4. Prohibit major system deployments during critical academic periods
  5. Require transparent performance metrics that reflect the veteran experience

Full written testimony: https://vetsedsuccess.org/our-written-testimony-house-committee-on-veterans-affairs-oversight-hearing/