The program, dubbed Operation Resilience, will focus on troops who saw heavy casualties in combat or high-rates of suicide at home. More than 45K VA jobs nationwide are vacant today. That has lawmakers worried about the department's ability to help veterans. Despite years of reports of rare illnesses from toxic exposure, advocates say the departments aren't doing enough. Thanks to advance appropriations, more than 95 percent of VA workers would stay on the job even if the rest of government closes. Lawmakers and veterans advocates are upset they have not yet been consulted on potentially sweeping health care changes for military members and veterans. Poonam Alaigh said in a letter to staff on Monday that she was stepping aside for family reasons. No more stories