For-profit trade schools across the United States defrauded the Department of
Veterans Affairs (VA) of more than $300 million by exploiting weaknesses in the
GI Bill program while leaving thousands of military veterans with little or no
meaningful career training, according to a Washington Post investigation.
The year-long investigation found that dozens of schools charged the VA exorbitant
tuition for short, low-quality vocational courses, often billing veterans several times
more than civilian students for the same instruction. Among the most striking
examples were programs charging nearly $15,000 for a five-day organic lawn care
course and $18,500 for an eight-day class teaching students to create artificial rocks
from concrete.
Drawing on thousands of pages of court records, investigative files, and documents
obtained through the Freedom of Information Act, The Post identified widespread
fraud involving unaccredited vocational schools that exploited gaps in federal
oversight. Many institutions violated longstanding GI Bill rules by charging veterans
higher tuition than civilians, falsifying enrollment records, or using veterans as
unpaid labor while receiving millions in taxpayer-funded tuition payments. The
investigation also found that inadequate regulatory safeguards enabled the abuse.
Unlike many federal education programs, the GI Bill does not require vocational
schools to obtain academic accreditation, while oversight responsibilities are largely
delegated to under-resourced state agencies. Federal auditors have repeatedly
warned that these weaknesses create significant opportunities for fraud.
Department of Veterans Affairs officials acknowledged that fraud remains a concern
but said new compliance tools and risk-monitoring systems have been introduced to
strengthen oversight. Veteran advocacy organizations, however, argue that the
program’s structure continues to leave both veterans and taxpayers vulnerable,
warning that meaningful reform will require stronger accountability standards and
more rigorous monitoring of participating schools.
