# 119-s-4400: Optimizing the VA Workforce for Veterans Act of 2026

119-s-4400, Optimizing the VA Workforce for Veterans Act of 2026, is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Sen. Moran, Jerry [R-KS] (R-KS); status in_committee; PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-09-06).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-4400
- As of: 2026-09-06
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 119-s-4400
- Congress: 119
- Title: Optimizing the VA Workforce for Veterans Act of 2026
- Status: in_committee
- Introduced: 2026-04-27
- Sponsor: Sen. Moran, Jerry [R-KS] (R-KS)
- Cosponsors: 1
- Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
- Touches household money: yes
- Last recorded action: 2026-09-06

## Summary

**A five-year strategic human capital plan for the Department of Veterans Affairs** would require the VA to map current and future staffing needs and set hiring and retention goals across its health, benefits, and cemetery services. It would also require 60-day notice before reductions in force and stronger reporting and risk‑metrics for reorganizations. - Veterans and families: The plan must document current and projected demand by facility, program, and region and report outcomes tied to service quality and access. This aims to align staffing with veteran-facing services. - VA employees: Any planned reduction in force would require at least 60 days' notice to affected employees and Congress, including counts, locations, and justification for how the cuts match projected demand. - VA leadership and human resources: Agencies would need workforce gap analyses, time-to-hire reduction goals, and targeted recruitment and retention strategies for veterans and military families. - Congress and oversight: The Comptroller General would review the plan within 180 days and every two years, and the VA must send regular implementation and reorganization reports to congressional veterans and appropriations committees.

## Cosponsors (1)

- Sen. King, Angus S., Jr. [I-ME] (I-ME), 2026-04-27T00:00:00.000Z

## Provisions PRIA read

- Five‑year VA workforce plan: benefit, high. If enacted, the bill would require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to submit a five‑year strategic human capital plan to Congress by September 30, 2027. The plan would be updated each September 30 starting in 2028 to cover the next five fiscal years. The plan would be broken down by VA component,…
- Advance notice for VA layoffs: benefit, medium. If enacted, the bill would require VA to give Congress and affected employees the same written notice at least 60 days before any planned reduction in force. The notice would list how many employees and which offices are affected, staff numbers before and after, services affected, budget effects, a…
- Stronger rules for VA reorganizations: benefit, medium. If enacted, the bill would require VA to explain how any covered administrative reorganization will improve outcomes for veterans, spouses, dependents, and caregivers. The reorganization justification would have to include results‑based performance measures and a risk mitigation plan that lists eac…

## Related bills

- 119-s-4744: Take Care of America’s Veterans Act
- 119-s-3923: Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Reauthorization Act of 2026
- 119-s-2354: Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2026
- 119-s-1748: Kids Online Safety Act
- 119-s-1260: Rural Housing Service Reform Act of 2025
- 119-s-5025: Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia Act of 2026

## Sources
- [119-s-4400 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/4400)

## Related
- [119-s-4744: Take Care of America’s Veterans Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-4744)
- [119-s-3923: Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Reauthorization Act of 2026](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-3923)
- [119-s-2354: Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2026](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-2354)
- [119-s-1748: Kids Online Safety Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-1748)
- [119-s-1260: Rural Housing Service Reform Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-1260)
- [119-s-5025: Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia Act of 2026](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-5025)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-4400 (as of 2026-09-06).