Our Mission: To fulfill President Lincoln’s promise to care for those who have served in our nation’s military and for their families, caregivers, and survivors.
- VA was established as an independent agency under the President by Executive Order No. 5398 on July 21, 1930, and was elevated to Cabinet level on March 15, 1989 (Pub. L. 100-527).
- The Department’s mission is to serve America’s Veterans and their families with dignity and compassion and to be their principal advocate in ensuring that they receive medical care, benefits, social support, and lasting memorials promoting the health, welfare, and dignity of all Veterans in recognition of their service to this Nation.
- VA is the second-largest Federal Department and has over 400,000 employees. Among the many professions represented in the vast VA workforce are physicians, nurses, counselors, statisticians, architects, computer specialists, and attorneys. As advocates for Veterans and their families, the VA community is committed to providing the very best services with an attitude of caring and courtesy.
- VA comprises a Central Office (VACO), which is in Washington, D.C., and field facilities throughout the Nation administered by its three major service line organizations: Veterans Health Administration, Veterans Benefits Administration, and National Cemetery Administration.
- Services and benefits are provided through a nationwide network of 145 acute inpatient sites, 1,115 VA outpatient-only sites, 1,297 VA sites, 300 Vet Centers, 56 Regional Offices, 155 VA National Cemeteries, and 119 State, Territorial, and Tribal VA grant-funded Veteran Cemeteries. (Statistics current as of September 30, 2021
