Veterans
House pushes competing veterans’ benefits bills through in unusual votes
Lawmakers passed a bill ending a provision preventing some combat-wounded veterans from collecting both military retirement pay and veterans’ disability compensation as well as a less generous version of that legislation, coupled with billions in other spending cuts.
VA staffing losses are disrupting critical services at multiple hospitals
At one New Jersey facility, departures left gaps in surgery, wound care and other services. ProPublica found similar disruptions at VA hospitals in three other states.
What federal agencies stand to gain by hiring more veterans
COMMENTARY| The IRS has made veteran recruitment a workforce priority. Its chief human capital officer explains why military experience can be an asset across government.
Honoring veterans means keeping our promises to them
COMMENTARY | Veterans facing delayed care, disrupted services and long waits for benefits depend on a VA workforce equipped to meet their needs.
VA physicians’ and dentists’ association urges pause in new health record system rollouts
The group wants independent patient safety reviews and fixes at facilities already using Oracle Health before VA moves ahead with more deployments.
Trump’s IG pick at the VA is ‘watering down’ oversight, some employees allege
As the Veterans Affairs inspector general faces mounting workforce challenges, some employees and former watchdogs raise questions about the office's trajectory.
Union seeks new avenue to restore VA contract
The American Federation of Government Employees asked a federal judge to issue an “indicative” ruling that would only take effect if OKed by the First Circuit Court of Appeals.
VA allows union contract to expire for most employees
Individuals hired as departmental police officers, firefighters and security guards, exempted from Trump’s anti-union orders, remain covered under the expired collective bargaining agreement, albeit only for “mandatory” conditions of employment.
Trump quietly hired political appointees under a new job classification, good government group reports
While Schedule G is not officially set up in regulation, the Office of Personnel Management emphasized that the position category for political appointees was established by executive order and that the agency issued implementing guidance.
8 midterm races for federal employees to watch
Several high-profile races, including Senate elections in Maine, Georgia and Texas, could impact civil servants.
VA rolls out CLEAR login option and in-person identity verification pilot
The new offering will allow participating veterans to use facial recognition to access their VA.gov accounts.
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Appeals court seemingly OKs VA’s contested union contract expiration
A three-judge panel found that a judge’s ruling in August forcing the VA to maintain its CBAs with AFGE improperly delved into questions of compliance with particular contract provisions.
VA disputes arbitration fees split with union it’s fighting to no longer recognize
VA officials say the agency will pay a "portion" of what a third-party arbitrator billed it, but is "unable to pay” for services rendered when VA didn't officially recognize its largest union.
Updated
VA’s reported staffing challenges in healthcare facilities hit 7-year high
An annual report from VA’s inspector general office highlights the types of positions VA healthcare facilities have difficulty filling when they need to hire, but “does not necessarily indicate the presence of vacancies.”
VA watchdog uses AI to help compile healthcare facility audits
The Office of Inspector General has been using Copilot Chat “to review inspection data such as interview transcripts, documents, questionnaire responses, and physical observations.”
What does 9/11 mean for young public servants who hardly remember it?
Although they may have limited memories of the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, some people say the events still shaped their career decisions.
Trump signs veterans benefits order calling for improved data sharing
The order instructs the departments of Veterans Affairs and Defense to conduct a broad review of information technology-related contracts to ensure greater interoperability.
VA’s benefits system overhaul is running into some familiar problems
An audit found gaps in planning, cost estimates and oversight that could put the modernization effort further behind schedule.
Judge rejects VA’s third attempt to cancel union contracts
U.S. District Judge Melissa DuBose OK'd a motion to enforce her prior preliminary injunction preserving collective bargaining at the Veterans Affairs Department on the eve of its planned termination of a collective bargaining agreement with AFGE.
Updated
GSA official put on leave for social media post saying veterans’ preference in federal hiring is hampering tech recruiting
A government workforce expert told Government Executive that many hiring rules, including veterans’ preference, have become “procedural hurdles rather than achieving the intended outcome” because they haven’t been updated in decades.
