The United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is a government-run
military veteran’s benefit system. It is the U.S. government’s second largest
department, after the U.S Department of Defense. The establishment of the
Veterans Administration came in 1930 when Congress authorized president
Herbert Hoover to "consolidate and coordinate Government activities affecting
war veterans." The three component agencies became bureaus within the
Veterans Administration. Brigadier General Frank T. Hines, who directed the
Veterans Bureau for seven years, was named as the first Administrator of
Veterans Affairs, a job he held until 1945. The VA health care system has
grown from 54 hospitals in 1930 to include 171 medical centers; more than
350 outpatient, community, and outreach clinics, and 126 nursing home care
units.