Debt ceiling bill and accusations of cuts to veterans' programs spark controversy.

The White House has warned that the Republican-backed legislation to raise the debt ceiling would result in the largest cuts to veterans benefits in US history, including the elimination of 81,000 jobs from the Department of Veterans Affairs. The bill, which the Republican-controlled House approved last week, would also result in 30 million fewer Veterans Affairs' outpatient visits and increase the disability backlog of veterans by 134,000. The legislation includes $4.5tn in cuts to government programs and would raise the debt ceiling May 2024. President Biden has vowed to veto the bill, which is unlikely to pass the Democratic-controlled Senate.