VA Hiring Integrity Act of 2026
Sponsored By: Representative Gosar, Paul A. [R-AZ-9]
Introduced
Summary
Bars VA hiring or retention of individuals who knowingly committed fraud involving federal funds. This bill would make people in VA health care jobs and certain additional VA staff ineligible for appointment or retention if they have criminal fraud convictions, final False Claims Act judgments, or are excluded from federal health programs. It also lets the Secretary disqualify people found to have knowingly taken or concealed federal funds, while requiring advance notice, a file of evidence, and a new internal grievance process with final review by the Assistant Secretary for Accountability and Whistleblower Protection.
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- Job applicants and current VA staff: Would be barred from VA health care positions or from being added as certain VA "additional employees" if they have convictions for fraud, theft, embezzlement, bribery, kickbacks, false statements, conspiracy, a final False Claims Act judgment, or exclusion under Social Security Act section 1128 as listed by the HHS Office of Inspector General.
- Veterans and patients: Would face a workforce screened for prior federal-funds fraud findings, reducing the chance that someone with those disqualifying histories provides care in VA health programs.
- VA officials and affected employees: Must follow procedure. The bill requires advance notice, access to the evidence file, an internal grievance process created with the Assistant Secretary for Accountability and Whistleblower Protection, the right to a representative during contests, and a final, conclusive decision by that Assistant Secretary.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
1 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.
VA ban on hiring fraud offenders
If enacted, the VA would be barred from appointing or keeping people in certain VA health jobs who knowingly committed fraud involving Federal funds. Disqualifying conduct would include criminal fraud convictions, final False Claims Act judgments, and exclusion from federal health-care programs. The Secretary could also bar people found to have knowingly schemed to misuse or divert Federal funds. Persons subject to that Secretary determination would get advance notice, the evidence file, and an internal grievance process with representation. The Assistant Secretary for Accountability and Whistleblower Protection would make the final grievance decision. The change would take effect upon enactment.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Gosar, Paul A. [R-AZ-9]
AZ • R
Cosponsors
Rep. Davidson, Warren [R-OH-8]
OH • R
Sponsored 9/24/2026
Rep. Edwards, Chuck [R-NC-11]
NC • R
Sponsored 9/24/2026
Rep. Fine, Randy [R-FL-6]
FL • R
Sponsored 9/24/2026
Rep. Finstad, Brad [R-MN-1]
MN • R
Sponsored 9/24/2026
Rep. Fry, Russell [R-SC-7]
SC • R
Sponsored 9/24/2026
Rep. Harrigan, Pat [R-NC-10]
NC • R
Sponsored 9/24/2026
Rep. Lawler, Michael [R-NY-17]
NY • R
Sponsored 9/24/2026
Rep. Luttrell, Morgan [R-TX-8]
TX • R
Sponsored 9/24/2026
Rep. Mann, Tracey [R-KS-1]
KS • R
Sponsored 9/24/2026
Rep. McDowell, Addison P. [R-NC-6]
NC • R
Sponsored 9/24/2026
Rep. Alford, Mark [R-MO-4]
MO • R
Sponsored 9/24/2026
Rep. Baird, James R. [R-IN-4]
IN • R
Sponsored 9/24/2026
Rep. Bean, Aaron [R-FL-4]
FL • R
Sponsored 9/24/2026
Rep. Bergman, Jack [R-MI-1]
MI • R
Sponsored 9/24/2026
Rep. Biggs, Sheri [R-SC-3]
SC • R
Sponsored 9/24/2026
Rep. Bilirakis, Gus M. [R-FL-12]
FL • R
Sponsored 9/24/2026
Rep. Bost, Mike [R-IL-12]
IL • R
Sponsored 9/24/2026
Brecheen
OK • R
Sponsored 9/24/2026
Rep. Burchett, Tim [R-TN-2]
TN • R
Sponsored 9/24/2026
Rep. Carter, Earl L. "Buddy" [R-GA-1]
GA • R
Sponsored 9/24/2026
Rep. Cloud, Michael [R-TX-27]
TX • R
Sponsored 9/24/2026
Rep. McGuire, John J. [R-VA-5]
VA • R
Sponsored 9/24/2026
Rep. Messmer, Mark B. [R-IN-8]
IN • R
Sponsored 9/24/2026
Rep. Miller, Max L. [R-OH-7]
OH • R
Sponsored 9/24/2026
Rep. Moore, Tim [R-NC-14]
NC • R
Sponsored 9/24/2026
Rep. Murphy, Gregory F. [R-NC-3]
NC • R
Sponsored 9/24/2026
Rep. Norman, Ralph [R-SC-5]
SC • R
Sponsored 9/24/2026
Rep. Obernolte, Jay [R-CA-23]
CA • R
Sponsored 9/24/2026
Rep. Rose, John W. [R-TN-6]
TN • R
Sponsored 9/24/2026
Rep. Self, Keith [R-TX-3]
TX • R
Sponsored 9/24/2026
Rep. Sessions, Pete [R-TX-17]
TX • R
Sponsored 9/24/2026
Rep. Van Duyne, Beth [R-TX-24]
TX • R
Sponsored 9/24/2026
Rep. Van Orden, Derrick [R-WI-3]
WI • R
Sponsored 9/24/2026
Rep. Wittman, Robert J. [R-VA-1]
VA • R
Sponsored 9/24/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov