House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chairman James Comer has requested information from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) regarding care for former military personnel affected by anomalous health incidents (AHIs), including Havana Syndrome. This request is part of a broader investigation into what Comer describes as the Biden Administration’s inadequate measures to provide legally required care for federal civilian employees suffering from AHIs.
In a letter addressed to VA Secretary Douglas Collins, Chairman Comer seeks a staff-level briefing on the current administration’s shortfalls and the previous administration’s efforts to ensure adequate care. “VA operates the Veterans Health Administration (VHA), the largest integrated healthcare system in the United States and the primary source of care for nearly half of all veterans. According to VA’s own reporting, a significant number of individuals affected by AHIs are veterans,” wrote Chairman Comer.
The Fiscal Year 2022 National Defense Authorization Act expanded the Department of Defense’s authority to provide healthcare to federal civilian employees impacted by AHIs. Despite this expansion, a Government Accountability Office report issued in 2024 highlights ongoing challenges faced by veterans with AHIs in DoD facilities. While efforts have been made by the VA to study AHIs and facilitate veteran care, there remains criticism over the Biden Administration’s lack of an effective system for diagnosing and treating government employees with such conditions.
Earlier this year, a letter was sent by the Committee to DoD Secretary Pete Hegseth concerning actions taken by DoD for affected veterans. In his recent communication, Chairman Comer stated that “the VA should be prepared to answer” several questions related to data-sharing agreements with DoD, review of clinical data gathered by DoD, coordination with the Institute of Medicine on presumptive service connection rules for AHIs, and access provided to veterans based on AHI diagnoses.
Further details can be found in Comer’s letter addressed to Secretary Douglas Collins.
