The Department of Veterans Affairs said the federal government shutdown has forced nearly 37,000 employees to be furloughed or work without pay.

The department’s medical centers, outpatient clinics and veterans centers remain open and are operating normally during the shutdown because of advanced appropriations from Congress, the agency said.

“The Democrats’ government shutdown is limiting services for veterans and making life miserable for VA employees, and things are only going to get worse as time goes on,” said VA Secretary Doug Collins.

“It’s time for Democrats to stop using the suffering of Americans as political leverage to give free healthcare to illegal immigrants.

“I call on them to open the government and enable VA to provide the complete and comprehensive services America’s

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