Lawmakers Question OMB's Legal Compliance in Disbursing Funds to Veterans Affairs

During the Senate Budget Committee hearing, Veterans Affairs Director Patrick Farrell disclosed that funds from the Taxicab Commission auction and VI Lottery were withheld, prompting concerns over OMB's adherence to legal mandates

Is the Office of Management and Budget once again failing to follow legal mandates when it comes to disbursing funds of the Virgin Islands Government? Yes, according to information that surfaced during Wednesday’s meeting of the Senate Committee on Budget, Finance and Appropriations.‌

The V.I. Office of Veterans Affairs was before the committee, defending its FY 2025 budget request. VA Director Patrick Farrell disclosed that funds from the 2020 Taxicab Commission’s medallion auction, as well as the first half of the VA's usual $100,000 annual disbursement from the VI Lottery, had been withheld. The funds “were redirected due to the government-wide expenditures exceeding revenues,” said Mr. Farrell in his testimony. The same fate befell the monies that were due to the VA from the TCC’s auction.