Cornyn Urges VA, DOJ to Investigate Predatory Schools Defrauding Veterans of G.I. Benefits

Cornyn Urges VA, DOJ to Investigate Predatory Schools Defrauding Veterans of G.I. Benefits News Cornyn Urges VA, DOJ to Investigate Predatory Schools Defrauding Veterans of G.I. Benefits September 9, 2026 WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) released the following statement after sending a pair of bipartisan letters encouraging the Trump administration to investigate and hold accountable “slapdash” trade schools and education institutions in Texas and across the country who reportedly defrauded veterans of their G.I. Bill benefits and ripped off American taxpayers: “ The GI Bill is intended to help those who have honorably served our country pursue higher education, receive career training, and build a life after the military, and any bad actors who have abused its benefits by ripping off American taxpayers and deceiving veterans for their own gain must be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law, ” said Sen. Cornyn. Background: Following the Washington Post’s reporting that predatory trade schools in Texas, New Hampshire, California, Georgia, and Florida abused $300 million in G.I. Bill funding and deceived veterans, Sen. Cornyn joined a letter led by Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and cosigned by Sen. Maggie Hassan (D-NH) to Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary Doug Collins and VA Inspector General Cheryl Mason encouraging the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) to launch an enhanced investigation into all unaccredited trade schools where veterans are enrolled to ensure the programs meet all applicable requirements. The bipartisan trio also urged the VA to review its processes for accepting and assessing complaints from students and whistleblowers on potentially fraudulent activity, and to increase funding and personnel for investigating these cases. The Senators also asked the VA to coordinate with the Department of Justice (DOJ) to refer fraud cases for prosecution. In a separate letter to U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche, the Senators called on the DOJ to strengthen how it investigates, prosecutes, and penalizes G.I. Bill fraud and to improve coordination with federal, state, and local partners to better protect veterans. It also calls on the DOJ to evaluate its coordination with VA to better target fraud and abuse. The full text of the letter to the VA can be found here and below. September 3, 2026 The Honorable Doug Collins Secretary of Veterans Affairs 810 Vermont Avenue NW Washington, DC 20420 The Honorable Cheryl Mason Veterans Administration Inspector General 810 Vermont Avenue NW Washington, DC 20420 Secretary Collins and Inspector General Mason: We write to you today with grave concerns about recent Washington Post reporting on how many veterans were defrauded of their GI Bill benefits by “slapdash” trade schools and education institutions in Texas, California, New Hampshire, Georgia and Florida. We are troubled by reports of veterans defrauded and how the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) failed to properly investigate schools with obvious signs of fraud across multiple years and presidential administrations. Since its inception during World War II, the GI Bill was intended to provide veterans with the education and skills necessary to lead productive lives. Veterans earn educational benefits through their service to the United States. Millions of veterans have successfully used this program to obtain education and training from universities, colleges and trade and vocational schools. The Post 9/11 GI Bill provides up to 36 months of educational benefits for veterans who served more than 90 days of active duty after September 11, 2001. However, as the Washington Post reported, some unaccredited for-profit schools have taken advantage of both veterans and VA either by providing substandard education, charging more tuition as compared to non-veterans or aggressively recruiting veterans with little regard for whether the school’s training helps the veteran. In return for their service, it is our duty to ensure veterans are protected from fraud and scams. In all, the Washington Post found more than $300 million in fraud at 20 schools that were bilking our veterans. Much of the fraud should have been obvious at first glance. Schools offering courses that cost thousands of dollars but last less than a week should have caused red flags to go up at VA. Moreover, the article raises questions about how the Department processes and refers veterans’ complaints.  While these losses to fraud may only represent a small percentage of the VA’s education budget, any loss of funds and adverse impacts to veterans must be swiftly addressed. VA has repeatedly said that fraud against veterans is one of its top priorities. It is imperative that we understand how these institutions are allowed to operate and make millions despite multiple oversight measures. Consequently, we call on VA OIG to launch an enhanced investigation into all unaccredited trade schools where veterans are enrolled to ensur