Defense
'High volume’ of last-minute PACT Act submissions caused tech glitches, VA says
Veterans Affairs Secretary Denis McDonough stressed that no veteran or survivor who received an error message “will miss out on a single day of benefits due to this issue.”
Workforce
VA, AFGE celebrate ‘best union contract’ in federal government
After six years of often acrimonious negotiations, the Veterans Affairs Department and the nation’s largest federal employee union on Tuesday signed a new collective bargaining agreement.
Defense
Women and LGBTQ+ veterans say VA facilities ‘weren’t built with us in mind’
Women veterans are less likely to go to Veterans Affairs hospitals for health care due to harassment, stigma and a lack of resources and services.
Defense
Veterans exposed to burn pits, toxins urged to apply for retroactive benefits
Nearly a year ago, President Joe Biden signed the PACT Act, a law supporters describe as the largest expansion of veteran benefits in U.S. history.
Management
VA deploys medical units around the country to treat homeless vets
The number of homeless veterans has decreased dramatically over the last 15 years.
Oversight
Fixing accountability first: Another look at the Restore VA Accountability Act
COMMENTARY | If we really want to rid the VA (and the rest of the federal civil service) of poor performers, we need to find a middle ground between making every employee “at will” and defaulting to today’s status quo.
Workforce
Biden administration to spend $100M-plus to restore jobs or offer payments to employees improperly fired
The settlement agreement resolves an issue that arose during the Trump administration.
Management
House spending bill for the VA renews fight over abortion access, transgender care
Legislation would bar Biden administration from closing Guantánamo Bay detention facility in Cuba.
Workforce
Measure to hasten firing of VA employees advances
The Biden administration has warned the new procedures are unnecessary and would only complicate the disciplinary process.
Tech
VA opposed to new electronic health record requirements, but open to more major acquisition review
VA officials told lawmakers Wednesday that they oppose proposed oversight standards for the department’s new electronic health record modernization program.
Workforce
Biden administration to Congress: Don't give us more authority to fire people
Legal hurdles to already failed approaches would only complicate the disciplinary process, officials say.
Oversight
As veteran disability claims soar, unaccredited coaches profit off frustration with the VA system
Austin, Texas-based VA Claims Insider says it has helped hundreds of thousands of clients. It has also touched off complaints and investigations.
Workforce
Republican leaders take another shot at easing the firing process for VA workers
Previous efforts to speed up firing at VA have fallen flat, but lawmakers are launching a new, bipartisan effort.
Management
What Public Health Lessons Need to Be Learned from the COVID Crisis?
Dr. Richard Stone joins the podcast to discuss his book and running VHA during the early part of the coronavirus pandemic.
Pay & Benefits
Mandatory Overtime at VA Is Not Going Away Any Time Soon, Though Officials Acknowledge It's a Problem
It is all hands on deck as VA looks to handle a surge of new work.
Tech
Inter-Agency Effort Targets the Half of Veterans Who Never Engage With VA
The resource hub out of the departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs is part of a larger White House initiative to better respond to the life experiences of Americans.
Tech
Customer Service, Life Experiences and Technology
Nextgov's Aaron Boyd joins the podcast to discuss his series on CX in government.
Tech
House Lawmakers Coalesce Around Bipartisan Fixes to VA’s Electronic Health Records System
The top Democrat and Republican on the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee have started bipartisan negotiations to address the Veterans Affairs Department’s troubled rollout of its new electronic health record system.
Management
Senate Republicans Fail in Bid to Block VA From Providing Abortions
Lawmakers called the rule allowing limited access to the procedure illegal and damaging to workforce morale.
Management