Slow response times, manpower shortages and the struggle to enhance the Veterans Cemetery. The Guam Office of Veterans Affairs is in the hotseat before senators today. This as leadership at the agency admits they need more help to get the job done.

A heated exchange between Senator Shawn Gumatotao and Guam Office of Veterans Affairs administrator Jose San Agustin.

"That was absolutely misrepresenting and you can take it back to Adelup. You guys misrepresented the infusion of money into that cemetery. When veterans are everyday dying and looking for a place for their families to lay them to rest. You are saying that is untrue - $8.2 million does not exist," the senator noted, with San Agustin replying, "Senator let me remind you, I'm a veteran. I will not let that happen."

And a call out to get things moving quicker by Senator Therese Terlaje.

"This is really the tragedy of the veterans affairs on Guam is that things take long. Not due to your lack of work but there is delays in other places," she said.

The local VA Office appearing in an oversight hearing before its legislative committee.

The hearing comes days after oversight chair Senator Sabrina Salas Matanane introduced the Guam Veterans Empowerment Act of 2025 proposing an independent, autonomous agency within GovGuam dedicated to serving veterans without political interference and creating an elected veterans governing commission.

San Agustin briefing senators on his plans, while admitting his frustrations.

"I care that I do not have a VA hospital on Guam," he said, adding, "Time is sensitive and I guarantee is has taken some of veterans lives away...because that resource is not here."

Veterans affairs oversight vice chair Senator Vince Borja - a veteran himself - questioning why so many like them are not getting timely responses.

"Even just the frustration from the veteran community...is not being able to get their answers or questions address. Do you have a response to that concern?" he said.

San Agustin said, "Those phone calls and those responsiveness are very important to me. I can tell you that as we build our staff I think that is going to create a more robust, more response back to our veterans and their families. I am one of them guilty of that and I'll tell you that."

San Agustin telling lawmakers he needs six veterans service officers and six cemetery workers.

"We are wanting to build capacity. We are wanting to build manpower to be able to efficiently help our veterans on Guam," he said.

San Agustin even getting emotional when the discussion hit veterans claims.

"I'm sorry because this is very...I have people, veterans that I know of that want to get the 100 percent and put in claims and given medications because they wanted that 100 percent but took a toll on their health and their lives," he said.

The marine telling senators "I don't need this job - I want this job because i want to my best," adding he is looking for solutions to help the veterans of Guam.