Management
The VA is not waste, it’s a lifeline
COMMENTARY | “There’s a way to improve VA without hasty and indiscriminate cuts that will set us back and hinder our ability to provide compassionate care,” argues one VA staffer and former combat medic.
Workforce
Top Republican and Democrat plan competing bills to curb VA firings, protect veterans
Thousands of veterans have lost their jobs across federal agencies in sweeping cuts by the Trump administration, according to lawmakers.
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Workforce
VA plans to lay off as many as 83,000 employees this year
A leaked memo released Tuesday called for VA to slash its workforce to 2019 levels that were in place before millions of veterans became newly eligible for care.
Workforce
Veterans Affairs axes another 1,400 probationary employees
The agency has now laid off 2,400 employees since Feb. 13.
Management
Senate confirms new VA secretary as Dems demand he protect employees from hiring freeze and firings
Doug Collins should also not cooperate with Elon Musk's cost-cutting team or allow any funding freezes to continue, top Democrat says.
Management
VA wants hiring freeze exemptions for 300,000 roles
The acting Veterans Affairs secretary said in a Jan. 21 memo that the requested exemptions cover positions critical to the delivery of health care services.
Management
VA secretary nominee rejects privatization but wants more employee firings
Doug Collins pledges to be a 'cheerleader' for good workers and an adversary for bad ones.
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Workforce
VA employees ordered to pay back bonuses over misconduct now have an appeal process
The rulemaking is the result of a 2017 law intended to make it easier to remove poor-performing VA employees, but the Biden administration previously decided not to use it after legal decisions blunted the law’s authorities.
Management
Outgoing VA chief meets with Trump's 'very serious' transition team to discuss budget shortfall, other issues
Secretary Denis McDonough shares concerns about staffing with Trump's VA team, which is making dozens of requests for information during transition period.
Management
Award-winning VA leaders show the impact that federal employees can have serving the public
The presidential rank awards recognize outstanding senior government executives.
Tech
VA plans to restart EHR rollouts in mid-2026, despite viability concerns
VA Secretary Denis McDonough previously told Congress that the department was looking to end its pause on new deployments of the Oracle Cerner software in fiscal year 2025.
Pay & Benefits
VA omnibus bill including community care and pay waiver updates heading to Biden’s desk
A compendium of bills packaged into the Senator Elizabeth Dole 21st Century Veterans Healthcare and Benefits Improvement Act features veteran educational assistance funding, community care improvements, increased funding for veteran homelessness providers and more.
Management
House Republicans set the stage for expanding private care for veterans
President-elect Trump could once again seek to shift veterans away from VA for health care and the top Republican on the issue just laid out a blueprint for doing so.
Management
As Trump names VA pick, firing and privatization come back into the spotlight
Trump's choice is already highlighting some of the most controversial VA priorities from the president-elect's first term.
Tech
Veterans’ military skills can help them fill cyber vacancies, State official says
The White House’s national cybersecurity strategy said that greater veteran participation in the U.S. cyber workforce can help enhance critical digital defenses.
Updated
Management
10 congressional races for federal employees to watch
Many of the competitive House and Senate races involve lawmakers who oversee federal agency funding.
Management
VA breaks records for veterans served despite slowing hiring
VA is now seeking a budget boost to meet staffing needs and veterans demands for fiscal 2025.
Tech
VA’s head of AI sees his role as a ‘bridge’ to future use
Meet the Department of Veterans Affairs CAIO Charles Worthington. He envisions a future where AI components are built into standard technology and software.
Tech
VA is updating its AI suicide risk model to reach more women
The department is looking to add military sexual trauma and intimate partner violence as risk factors for suicide in its predictive model for identifying veterans at high risk of self-harm.
Management