VA Funding and Workforce Protection Act
Sponsored By: Representative Kennedy (NY)
In Committee
Summary
Protecting VA funding and workforce. This bill would block the Department of Veterans Affairs from impounding, transferring, or reprogramming discretionary funds unless Congress passes a new law that explicitly references this Act. It would also set hiring and layoff rules to protect VA employees between 2025 and 2029.
Show full summary
- Veterans and career employees: Career veterans removed from VA jobs during the period starting January 20, 2025 through the enactment date would be reinstated to the position they held one day before removal and shielded from reductions in force through January 20, 2029.
- Current and prospective staff: The Secretary could not impose a hiring freeze from January 20, 2025 through January 20, 2029 and probationary employees could not be removed without a later Congressional authorization. Removals for poor performance would trigger immediate reporting requirements.
- Oversight and funding transparency: The Secretary would have to notify Veterans' Affairs committees if the Department faces a 30-day funding shortfall and certify compliance within 30 days of enactment and annually thereafter.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Protect VA workers and veterans' jobs
If enacted, the Department would be exempt from any hiring freeze from January 20, 2025 through January 20, 2029. If enacted, career veterans who were removed from VA jobs between January 20, 2025 and the date this Act is enacted would have to be reinstated to their prior (or equivalent) position and would be protected from layoff until January 20, 2029. If enacted, VA could not remove probationary employees unless Congress later passes a law after this Act that specifically allows it; if a probationary employee is removed for poor performance, the Secretary would have to send Congress the reasons, the latest performance appraisal, and the removal notice on the date of removal. If enacted, the Secretary would also have to give the House and Senate Veterans' Affairs committees written notice at least 15 days before any layoff or reorganization removal.
Protect VA funding and oversight
If enacted, VA discretionary funds could not be impounded, transferred, or reprogrammed unless Congress later passes a law that specifically references this Act and allows it. If enacted, the VA Secretary would have to tell the House and Senate Veterans' Affairs committees if VA is within 30 days of running out of money. If enacted, the VA Secretary would also have to send a written compliance certification to the House and Senate Appropriations and Veterans' Affairs committees within 30 days of enactment and once a year after that.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Kennedy (NY)
NY • D
Cosponsors
Velazquez
NY • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large]
DC • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Thanedar
MI • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Dingell
MI • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Tlaib
MI • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Landsman
OH • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Ocasio-Cortez
NY • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Ramirez
IL • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Neguse
CO • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Davis (IL)
IL • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Mannion
NY • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Williams (GA)
GA • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
McIver
NJ • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Budzinski
IL • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Ruiz
CA • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Sewell
AL • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Crockett
TX • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Titus
NV • D
Sponsored 4/9/2025
Panetta
CA • D
Sponsored 4/10/2025
Levin
CA • D
Sponsored 4/14/2025
Johnson (GA)
GA • D
Sponsored 4/24/2025
Morrison
MN • D
Sponsored 4/24/2025
Sykes
OH • D
Sponsored 4/28/2025
Craig
MN • D
Sponsored 4/28/2025
Chu
CA • D
Sponsored 6/17/2025
Carson
IN • D
Sponsored 7/14/2025
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
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