Veterans

VA extends PACT Act filing deadline after website glitches

The Veterans Affairs Department is giving eligible veterans an extra week to announce their intention to submit claims under a law that expands benefits for exposure to toxic substances.

'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.”

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.

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.

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.

VA deploys medical units around the country to treat homeless vets

The number of homeless veterans has decreased dramatically over the last 15 years.

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. 

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.