BOISE, Idaho (CBS2) — The Idaho Department of Government Efficiency Task Force (DOGE) released a list at the end of last month detailing various agencies and departments in the State of Idaho to be evaluated in upcoming legislative sessions. Among those listed was the Idaho Division of Veterans Services (IDVS). Causing some concern to come from the veteran community.
IDVS received just over $1.6 million from Idaho’s general fund in FY2024. It provides housing through four veterans homes across the state and operates the veterans cemeteries. In FY2024, 12,938 claims were filed with the department.
The document is broken up into four categories. Low-hanging fruit, proposed and needs more work, legislature ideas and further review. The further review section is where IDVS is listed. Isaac Belden, the founder of local non-profit Veteran Entrepreneur Alliance says a potential cut will affect roughly 140,000 veterans in Idaho.
“There’s an immediate negative impact on veterans that are trying to access the resources and the benefits that they’ve earned through their service,” said Belden.
State Rep. Jeff Ehlers, R-District 21B and co-chair of the DOGE Task Force, said listed agencies are in varying stages of discussion. Some conversations have started while some agencies have just been brought up as something to look at.
He says each agency will go through a review process.
“And we’re going to ask questions about the size of it, right, how many employees are there, what sort of budget do they have? We’re gonna look at things like their original mission, and are they still in line with their original mission or has there been scope creep,” Ehlers said.
DOGE continues to meet between legislative sessions, but no decision on funding can be made without going through the legislative process. Meaning every proposed cut or change to departments that comes out of the Task Force must be passed through the legislature like any other bill.
Ehlers said after a review process has been completed, some agencies might be removed from the list and not looked at any further.
“I would just say let’s not jump to conclusions yet until we’ve done our review which will include talking to the stakeholders and these various groups,” he said.
This still hasn’t quelled concerns from the veteran community. One idea Belden said has been tossed around is merging IDVS with the Idaho Veterans Affairs Commission (IVAC). IVAC is an oversight commission for IDVS tasked with determining if services and care are being provided adequately.
“You don’t take the watch dog and consolidate them with the organization that they’re watching,” Belden said. “I don’t think enough thought was put into it.”
He also worried that if funding were to get cut, non-profits like his wouldn’t be able to fully support every veteran in Idaho quickly enough.
Idaho DOGE’s next meeting is Oct. 23 and the legislative sessions starts in January.