The only «benefit» I can see is for those within the department to demonstrate the worthiness of their continued
funding at or around the
current level, even though almost half that department could be removed with the stroke of a pen if a few eligibility rules for benefits were loosened for the few
remaining veterans who have a few years only before meeting their maker - essentially bucket loads of money could be saved that are being expended employing teams of people for millions of dollars, to literally save mere thousands of dollars on veterans entitlements - «penny wise and pound foolish» = > it is actually quite bizarre, and I'm sure it is just one of the most blatant examples of the organised stupidity that is government today.