In an interview on the current federal shutdown, Will Hubbard, Marine Corps Reservist and Vice President for Veterans & Military Policy at Veterans Education Success, warned that thousands of military survivors and dependents are being left without essential education payments.
Hubbard explained that the Survivors’ and Dependents’ Educational Assistance Program (Chapter 35)—a key part of the GI Bill that supports spouses and children of fallen service members—has been disrupted. Many recipients, he said, “wake up and find they can’t make rent.” With VA staff furloughed and communication cut off, affected students have few answers or alternatives.
Veterans Education Success is calling on Congress to designate the VA education hotline as an essential service and to restore payment processing immediately. Hubbard also warned that the gap in support leaves veterans vulnerable to predatory lenders, who often target those struggling with delayed benefits