Vindman Hears from More Than 200 Virginians Who Have Experienced Delays with the Fredericksburg VA Health Care Center

Washington, D.C. - Congressman Eugene Vindman (Va.-07) is leading a congressional effortto increase transparency and accountability at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), address staffing shortages at VA facilities across the country, and ensure veterans receive the timely, quality care they have earned.

This effort comes after Vindman heard from more than 200 Virginians who participated in a district-wide survey about their experiences accessing VA services.

Currently, veterans seeking care at the Fredericksburg VA Health Care Center are waiting more than 100 days for a primary care appointment and 70 days for a mental health appointment. The survey asked constituents to share if they or a veteran in their life have experienced delays or challenges getting care through the VA.

"Veterans in Virginia's Seventh District and across the country have earned the very best care our nation can provide, and long wait times for critical health services are unacceptable," said Vindman. "I've heard from hundreds of Virginians whose appointments have been delayed, canceled, or disrupted because the VA doesn't have the staff it needs. Those stories are why I'm leading the congressional effort to increase transparency and accountability at the VA and help ensure every veteran receives the timely, high-quality care they've earned. Our veterans kept their promise to America. We must keep our promise to them."

Below are responses submitted by Virginia's Seventh District residents who took the survey:

-

"I moved to Fredericksburg in May and the VA has been unable to see me since. I went in for urgent care, but the provider was absent. Every time I visited, the clinic was nearly empty, with more staff than patients. Even though their appointment schedule appeared open, they still refused to see me. I also couldn't get appointments with neurology, ENT, psychiatry, or physical therapy." - Katharine, Stafford

"My husband had an appointment scheduled for December 2025. When he arrived, he was told it had been canceled because no physician was available. We made countless calls to reschedule and were repeatedly told someone would call us back. It's now July and he still hasn't received a new appointment." - William, Stafford

"It takes many months to get your appointment. It seems like there is no urgency on the part of the VA." - Kimberly, Stafford

"I needed to see a specialist, but my appointment was scheduled without my knowledge and then never happened. I've now been waiting for about four months. I've also had four different primary care providers in less than a year. They can't seem to keep primary care doctors, which is incredibly disheartening." - Christopher, Stafford

"I scheduled an eye exam in July 2025, and the earliest available appointment was in February 2026. Before that appointment even arrived, the clinic canceled it and rescheduled me for July 2026. That meant waiting an entire year for an eye exam, even though I have a service-connected eye condition." - Antonio, Stafford

"Dental care has been a nightmare for me. I had a tooth extracted via VA Dental care and was approved for an implant over a year and a half ago. Time has passed and I'm nowhere near getting the implant. It's been delay after delay." - Billy, Prince William

BACKGROUND

In June 2026, Vindman introduced bipartisan legislation to increase transparency and accountability at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), helping address understaffing at facilities across the country, including the Fredericksburg VA Health Care Center, and ensure veterans receive the care they earned.

Prior to that, Vindman called for accountability and a clear timeline to bring the facility to full capacity, ensuring our nation's veterans receive the care they earned through their service in five different letters.

• Vindman sent the first letter to Secretary Collins raising the concern on staffing, wait times, and the ability to best serve veterans on April 10, 2025. Read the letterhere.

• Vindman sent the second letter to Secretary Collins raising the concern on staffing, wait times, and the ability to best serve veterans on October 6, 2025. Read the letterhere.

• Vindman sent the third letter to Secretary Collins raising the concern on staffing, wait times, and the ability to best serve veterans on October 17, 2025. Read the letter here.

• Vindman sent the fourth letter to Secretary Collins raising the concern on staffing, wait times, and the ability to best serve veterans on October 27, 2025. Read the letter here.

• Vindman sent the fifth letter to Secretary Collins raising the concern on staffing, wait times, and the ability to best serve veterans on April 10, 2026. Read the letter here.

A previously scheduled in-person meeting to address the staffing shortages and operational delays was also canceled, further delaying progress.

###