FAST VETS Act

The FAST VETS Act, enacted on January 20, 2026, modifies how the Department of Veterans Affairs manages vocational rehabilitation for veterans with service-connected disabilities. The law establishes new conditions for when the VA must redevelop a veteran's individualized vocational rehabilitation plan, which is a personalized roadmap for job training and employment services.

Under the existing Veteran Readiness and Employment program, the VA creates and reviews these plans annually for veterans who have serious employment challenges related to their service-connected disabilities. The FAST VETS Act adds an important requirement: if the VA determines that a veteran's original long-term rehabilitation goals are no longer achievable because their employment situation has changed, the VA must work with the veteran to develop a new plan that better reflects their current circumstances and offers a more realistic path to employment.

This law directly affects veterans receiving vocational rehabilitation services through the VA. It ensures that as veterans' situations evolve—whether due to changes in their disability, health status, or job market conditions—their rehabilitation plans can be updated to remain relevant and effective. Rather than keeping veterans locked into outdated plans, the law requires the VA to reassess and adjust goals when necessary.

The practical impact is that veterans will have greater flexibility and responsiveness in their employment support. If a veteran's original vocational goal becomes unrealistic, they can work with the VA to identify alternative career paths that are more achievable given their current circumstances. This helps ensure that veterans receive training and services tailored to what is actually possible for them, rather than pursuing goals that may no longer be feasible.