Ask the Chatbot Games & Quizzes History & Society Science & Tech Biographies Animals & Nature Geography & Travel Arts & Culture ProCon Money Videos
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Table of Contents
Introduction References & Edit History Quick Facts & Related Topics
Read Next
Close up of a hand placing a ballot in a ballot box. Election vote voter voting
Have Any U.S. Presidents Decided Not to Run For a Second Term?
Washington, D.C. locator map.
What State Is Washington, D.C. In?
The United States Supreme Court building, Washington, D.C.
14 Questions About Government in the United States Answered
Bar graph of the United States Death Toll during major events. Infogram chart.
U.S. Death Toll During Major Events
The Battle of New Orleans, by E. Percy Moran, c. 1910. Andrew Jackson, War of 1812.
26 Decade-Defining Events in U.S. History
Discover
Wasp spider. Argiope bruennichi. Orb-weaver spider. Spiders. Arachnid. Cobweb. Spider web. Spider's web. Spider silk. Black and yellow striped wasp spider spinning a web.
Do We Really Swallow Spiders in Our Sleep?
Portion of the Aleppo Codex, a manuscript of the Hebrew Bible written in the Hebrew language in the 10th century CE; in the Shrine of the Book, Israel Museum, Jerusalem.
Why Do Languages Die?
Normandy Invasion: Omaha Beach. World War II. D-Day. Infographic. SPOTLIGHT VERSION
Facts and Figures About the Landings on Omaha Beach During the Normandy Invasion on June 6, 1944
airplane in flight (plane, aircraft, flying)
7 Puzzling Plane Disappearances
Statue of Nostradamus
Nostradamus and His Prophecies
Lake Mead (the impounded Colorado River) at the Hoover Dam. The light-coloured band of rock above the shoreline shows the decrease in water level in the first few years of the 21st century.
6 Lakes That Are Drying Up
Cleopatra hieroglyphic carving the Ancient Egyptian queen Cleopatra. Wall of the Temple of Horus at Edfu, Egypt.
What Did Cleopatra Look Like?

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

United States government
verifiedCite
While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions.
Select Citation Style
Feedback
Corrections? Updates? Omissions? Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login).
Thank you for your feedback

Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article.

External Websites
Britannica Websites
Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students.
Also known as: VA
Written and fact-checked by
The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors.
The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
Last Updated: • Article History
Quick Facts
Date:
1989 - present
Areas Of Involvement:
veteran

News •

VA axes Biden-era pay bump for thousands of its HR employees • June 11, 2025, 1:03 PM ET (Federal News Network)
VA gets OPM assistance to carry out mass layoffs • June 10, 2025, 5:30 AM ET (Federal News Network)
VA Marks Benefits Milestone For Veterans • June 9, 2025, 5:24 AM ET (Newsweek)
Veterans protest against Trump cuts at DC rally: ‘Promises made to us have come under attack’ • June 7, 2025, 6:33 AM ET (The Guardian)
VA plans to cut 1,000 IT positions after Biden-era push to retain them • June 4, 2025, 8:41 AM ET (Federal News Network)

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), executive division of the U.S. federal government responsible for programs and policies relating to veterans and their families. Established in 1989, it succeeded the Veterans Administration (formed in 1930). The VA administers benefits for medical care, educational assistance and vocational rehabilitation, pensions and life insurance, and payments for disability or death related to military service.

This article was most recently revised and updated by Maren Goldberg.