Veterans

VA Suicide Prevention Teams Report Burnout as Department Fails to Ensure Proper Staffing

VA and Congress are doing more to identify vets at risk for suicide, but not keeping pace with staffing.

  • Eric Katz

VA Rolls Back Trump-era Workforce Policies

The Veterans Affairs Department is restoring its previous contract with AFGE, which allows access to official time and union office space in department facilities.

  • Erich Wagner

VA Is at a Crossroads As It Kicks Off BRAC-Style Review of Medical Facilities

A commission could soon recommend closures of VA medical facilities, or call for more of them.

  • Eric Katz

Democrats Push to Grant VA Medical Professionals Full Union Rights

Federal law currently prevents Veterans Affairs Department medical workers from bargaining over matters related to patient care and clinical competence, although much is at the discretion of the VA secretary.

  • Erich Wagner

House Overwhelmingly Backs Expanding Who VA Vaccinates

Lawmakers look to further leverage the Veterans Affairs Department's successful vaccine rollout.

  • Eric Katz

VA Touts Lower Employee COVID-19 Infection Rates, Improved PPE Supply

Officials praise VA workforce's resiliency as widespread vaccination leads to far fewer employees missing work.

  • Eric Katz

Reflections on Public Service During a Pandemic

A conversation with Paul Lawrence, the former Under Secretary for Benefits at the Veterans Affairs Department.

  • Mark A. Abramson

Union: VA Continues Stonewalling Contract Negotiations Despite Biden Order

In the two weeks since President Biden signed an executive order instructing agencies to work collaboratively with labor groups, the VA has continued Trump-era tactics against its largest union, AFGE says.

  • Erich Wagner

Biden's VA Pick Says He Can 'Unstick Problems' Within the Bureaucracy

Denis McDonough pledges to continue the status quo on private sector health care and provide more resources for VA employees.

  • Eric Katz

VA Expands Vaccination to Some Non-Health Care Staff as Postal Workers Face Uncertainty

Agencies have started vaccinations for more than 1 million people, but many federal workers have not received clear guidance.

  • Eric Katz

VA Is Increasingly Leaning on Contract Nurses as COVID-19 Cases Surge

Employees lament staffing shortages even as VA has brought on 66,000 new workers since the novel coronavirus pandemic began.

  • Eric Katz

Court Affirms Senior Executives in Government Have Only Limited Appeal Rights

Court also issues another defeat to President Trump's signature civil service reform law.

  • Eric Katz

VA Flags Potential Staffing, Resource Hurdles in Vaccine Distribution

The department will start with a small distribution of doses, but expects a series of hurdles in inoculating its entire workforce and network.

  • Eric Katz
Featured eBooks
The Civil Service in Crisis
Implementing Artificial Intelligence
Joint All Domain Command & Control (JADC2)

Senators Raise Concerns Over Burrowing In, Other 'Midnight' Activities at VA

Rushed policies and hiring decisions "should be left to the incoming administration," lawmakers say.

  • Eric Katz

Internal Documents Detail Who VA Will Vaccinate First

The Veterans Affairs Department's multi-tiered plan prioritizes delivering COVID-19 inoculations to high-risk staff and patients.

  • Eric Katz

A Member of Your Household Tests Positive for COVID-19? VA Says Keep on Working

Department tells employees not to quarantine until they start feeling sick.

  • Eric Katz

Panel Deals Major Blow to Trump's Signature Civil Service Reform, Calls for Rehiring of Fired Workers

Labor authority says administration violated a contract in implementing a 2017 law.

  • Eric Katz

Federal Panel Strips VA Worker Rights in Latest Pro-Management Decision

Although the Federal Service Impasses Panel scolded VA for its overbroad reliance on management rights to eviscerate its contract with a labor union, the panel still ruled mostly in the department’s favor.

  • Erich Wagner

Federal Manager, Contractor Dead Following Explosion at VA Facility

Another contractor is missing, and three individuals are injured.

  • Eric Katz

How You Can Help Veterans Every Day

The rate of death by suicide is rising among veterans. The most common stressor is a serious relationship difficulty.

  • Shelley MacDermid Wadsworth, The Conversation

Veterans Affairs Secretary Headlines GOP Fundraiser as COVID-19 Cases Surge

Electioneering by a cabinet secretary is unusual by historical standards, but Trump administration officials continue to show no reluctance to play politics.

  • Isaac Arnsdorf, ProPublica