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Generations of veterans in San Marcos, Texas, have silently struggled with the invisible and often overlooked burden of toxic exposure during their years of service. From Lewisite and mustard gas to burn pits, Agent Orange, radiation, and other industrial chemicals, these dangerous substances have left countless individuals susceptible to a myriad of life-altering illnesses that may not surface until decades later. Notable among these is asbestos, a natural mineral that became a staple in the military during World War II because of its versatility and durability, but is now notorious for its strong link to cancer.
Aiming to tackle this prevalent issue, Congress enacted the Honoring Our PACT Act in August 2022, primarily extending comprehensive healthcare services as well as compensation to toxicexposed veterans. Since its ratification, such legislation has made strides in providing vital support. However, its intention risks being hollowed out as workforce reduction affects the very office entrusted with delivering that commitment, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).
Veterans in San Marcos Confronting the Burden of Toxic Exposure Toxic exposure is not a distant or abstract threat for service members in San Marcos, Texas — it is a lived reality with drastic consequences that still affect many of them even after their active duty has ended. Such a hazard often involves asbestos, a mineral that naturally occurs in certain rock types, some of which are found in six areas of the Lone Star State. Known for its extraordinary tensile strength as well as fireproofing and insulating properties, this material has been extensively utilized in hundreds of industrial applications since the 1890s. In the military, asbestos has become evidently integral in the construction and maintenance of barracks, armaments, vessels, aircraft, tanks, trucks, and other vehicles during most of the 20th century. However, once disturbed and airborne, its tiny fibers can be easily inhaled or ingested, lodging in the tissue covering the lungs, leading to the development of mesothelioma, asbestosis, or lung cancer.
This legacy has unfortunately left a profound imprint across Texas. Between 1999 and 2017, the state witnessed nearly 15,350 asbestos-linked fatalities, of which 10,752 cases were due to lung cancer, 2,688 to mesothelioma, and 2,012 to asbestosis. Hays County — whose county seat is San Marcos — specifically recorded 56 related casualties, with roughly two annual average deaths. Navy veterans remain among the most vulnerable, as asbestos was widely used in the insulation, piping, engine rooms, and various compartments of ships constructed at least before 2002. Meanwhile, other former service members may likewise be at risk, especially those deployed in contaminated facilities like the old Edward Gary Air Force Base in San Marcos. For these Texans, timely diagnosis and specialized care are critically important —a lifeline now endangered by the erosion of VA human resources.
Budget Distributions Affect VA Staffing Ensuring that veterans receive proper healthcare and due compensation has always depended on the VA’s capacity to implement relevant policies, not just their mere passage. The PACT Act, for example, was a promising law approved by Congress three years ago to expand access to necessary health services and disability benefits for veterans impacted by toxic exposure. Such a mandate is indeed a reaffirmation of the nation’s duty of care to its service members, but without adequate staffing, even this landmark legislation risks falling short of its mission.
This circumstance is no longer hypothetical, especially with the new budget distribution. Amidst this ongoing issue, the VA is expected to lose nearly 30,000 employees by the end of fiscal year 2025 through attrition, early retirements, and a hiring freeze. Sadly, this burden is only growing heavier for the remaining staff, as increased caseloads and shifting directives create an environment of mounting stress and low morale.
Besides employee retention, the VA also faces faltering recruitment as more health professionals decline the department’s employment opportunities, mainly due to uncertainty over workforce stability. In fact, internal data revealed that almost four in ten of the approximately 2,000 job offers extended to doctors during the first quarter of this year were turned down, a fourfold increase from the same period last year.
For a large number of over 2,580 veterans in San Marcos, Texas, this troubling situation could translate into slower or even uncertain claims processing, as well as reduced or delayed access to critical medical services, despite the VA’s efforts to ensure that staff reductions do not impact their delivery of care and benefits.
Stabilizing the agency’s workforce is therefore critical to maintaining its capacity to deliver care. While the VA is slated to have a 10% budget increase in fiscal year 2026, the impact of that funding will depend on how effectively it is directed toward recruitment and retention. Ultimately, the measure of success will not be the size of the budget but whether veterans experience timely access to the benefits and medical services they are owed.
Cristina Johnson is a Navy veteran advocate for the Asbestos Ships Organization, a nonprofit organization dedicated to raising awareness and educating veterans about the dangers of asbestos exposure on Navy ships, as well as assisting them in navigating the VA claims process. For more information, please visit www.asbestos-ships.com
