Lawmakers: Future of over-budget Denver VA hospital unclear

Congressional leaders say the future of the over-budget Denver VA hospital is unclear because the Veterans Affairs Department hasn’t come up with an acceptable plan for funding it.

In a statement Thursday, the chairmen of the House and Senate veterans committees also criticized the VA for not punishing those responsible for the overrun.

The rare joint statement shows how unhappy Congress is with the project and with the VA’s response.

The VA had no immediate comment.

The hospital is expected to cost more than $1.7 billion, nearly triple an estimate VA gave last year.

The department wants to finish the hospital with $730 million from a fund that Congress set up to reduce wait times for veterans to get health care. Lawmakers from both parties rejected that plan this week.