Can the Veterans Administration garnish deceased bank accounts?

I'm sorry to hear about your father's death.  I suspect what is happening here is that your father had a contract with the VA home requiring him to pay for his residence there.  That obligation does not go away upon his death.  His obligations become those of his estate. Can you fight this -- maybe.  It depends on the procedural posture of the collection matter -- how far along is it?  Have you raised an estate for your father?  If so, you might require the VA to file a claim with the estate and then you can litigate the claim within the probate proceeding.  the VA would have to fall in the line of priority of who gets paid from an estate. There may be a way for you to shield some of your father's assets from this claim but I would suggest that you get all of the details to an attorney as soon as possible.  It sounds like things are urgent.  Once the VA gets the money in the account, it'll be difficult and costly to recover it.