VA Struggles to Reduce Appointment Wait Times Across the Board

New data shows mixed results in wait time improvements at VA medical centers, with some specialties seeing longer delays for new patients.

Apr. 16, 2026 at 2:23pm

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A highly detailed, ghostly X-ray image showing the complex inner workings of a medical appointment scheduling system, with glowing lines representing the flow of patient appointments and wait times.New data reveals a mixed picture of VA's efforts to reduce appointment wait times for veterans, with some facilities and specialties still struggling to provide timely access to care.Omaha Today

The Trump administration has touted improvements in appointment wait times at the Department of Veterans Affairs, but internal data reveals a more varied picture. While some VA facilities and specialties have seen reductions in wait times for new patients, many are still struggling to provide timely access to care, especially in areas like neurology, PTSD treatment, and oncology. The data shows about 42% of specialties saw increased wait times of over 2 days, while only 37% saw significant improvements.

Why it matters

Reducing wait times for veterans seeking care at VA medical centers has been a key priority, but this new data suggests the department has more work to do to consistently meet its own access standards. Longer wait times can delay critical treatment and negatively impact veterans' health outcomes.

The details

The data, obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request, covers 134 of VA's 170 medical centers across 10 key specialties. It shows that at the start of fiscal 2026, only 5 of the 10 practice areas had a majority of facilities meeting VA's 20-day standard for primary/mental health care and 28-day standard for specialty care. This was the same number as a year prior. For some specialties like physical therapy, substance use disorder, and oncology, the number of facilities meeting the standards actually declined.

  • The data covers the first 4 months of fiscal 2026 (October 2025 to January 2026) and compares it to the same period in fiscal 2025.
  • In February 2026, VA Secretary Doug Collins told lawmakers that wait times were improving.

The players

Doug Collins

The Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Jerry Moran

The Republican chairman of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee.

Richard Blumenthal

The top Democrat on the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee.

Steven Braverman

The former VHA chief operating officer who led multiple VA medical centers and regional offices.

Quinn Slaven

A VA spokesperson who disputed the analysis of the data.

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What they’re saying

“No veteran, especially those facing cancer, addiction or mental health conditions, should have to wait days, weeks or months to receive the care they have earned through their service.”

— Jerry Moran, Senator

“These findings contradict the Trump Administration's continued claims that its draconian workforce cuts and hemorrhaging of frontline VA staff have no impact on veterans' care. The resulting harm is visible in the increased wait times at many VA facilities nationwide.”

— Richard Blumenthal, Senator

“It's amazing to me that we've actually lowered wait times. It's amazing to me that through this process we've made it easier for our veterans to get this healthcare service they need. If that's chaos, maybe we're in the right direction.”

— Doug Collins, VA Secretary

What’s next

Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have vowed to continue oversight of VA's efforts to improve appointment wait times and access to care for veterans.

The takeaway

While the VA has touted progress in reducing wait times, this new data paints a more complex picture, with significant variation in performance across different medical centers and specialties. Addressing staffing challenges and meeting growing demand for care will be critical for the department to consistently provide timely access for veterans.