Summary
The Restore VA Accountability Act of 2025 proposes to give the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) more flexibility to discipline or remove supervisors and managers. Under this bill, the VA could take action against these employees if there is substantial evidence that their job performance or personal conduct justifies it. While the bill aims to streamline the disciplinary process, it would require the VA to provide employees with advance notice, access to the evidence against them, and the right to legal representation. Affected employees would also be allowed to challenge these decisions through an internal grievance process.
The bill also includes specific protections to ensure that these disciplinary powers are not misused. It would prohibit the VA from removing or demoting employees who are whistleblowers or those who are seeking legal protection against workplace discrimination. Additionally, the bill would update the standards for disciplining senior executives and other staff members, applying these new evidentiary requirements retroactively to actions taken since June 2017. If enacted, the bill's primary impact would be to change how the VA manages its workforce, potentially leading to faster removals of management-level employees while maintaining certain legal safeguards for those workers.
AI-generated summary
Lifecycle of the Bill
HearingHouseHearing6 witnesses
Feb 25, 2025 · 19:00
Legislative Hearing on: H.R. 472, The Restore VA Accountability Act of 2025; H.R. 1041, Veterans 2nd Amendment Protection Act; Discission Draft: To amend title 38, United States Code, to prohibit the Secretary of Veterans Affairs from transmitting certain information to the Department of Justice for use by the national instant criminal background check system; H.R. 740, Veterans’ ACCESS Act of 2025; and Discussion Draft: Student Veteran Benefit Restoration Act of 2025
Summary
The House Committee on Veterans' Affairs held a legislative hearing on February 26, 2025, to examine four bills and a discussion draft addressing various veterans' issues. The bills included H.R. 472 (Restore VA Accountability Act), H.R. 1041 (Veterans 2nd Amendment Protection Act), H.R. 740 (Veterans' ACCESS Act), and H.R. 1391 (Student Veteran Benefit Restoration Act), along with a discussion draft on background check reporting. H.R. 472 would streamline disciplinary procedures at the VA by allowing the Secretary to remove, demote, or suspend supervisors and managers based on substantial evidence of performance or misconduct, while maintaining due process protections including advance notice and grievance procedures. H.R. 1041 would prohibit the VA from reporting veterans to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System solely because they have a fiduciary managing their benefits, requiring instead a court finding that the veteran poses a danger to themselves or others. H.R. 740 would improve veterans' access to community-based care by codifying access standards and establishing an online portal for veterans to manage appointments and appeals. H.R. 1391 would allow the VA to restore educational benefits to veterans defrauded by educational institutions and require those institutions to repay the government. Witnesses testifying included VA officials—Dr. Sachin Yende (Chief Medical Officer), Ms. Beth Murphy (Acting Principal Deputy Undersecretary for Benefits), and Ms. Tracey Therit (Chief Human Capital Officer)—as well as representatives from veterans organizations including Mr. Patrick Murray (Veterans of Foreign Wars), Mr. Jim Whaley (Mission Roll Call), and the Honorable Max Rose (Vet Voice Foundation). The hearing provided an opportunity for the committee to gather testimony on these legislative proposals, though the hearing itself does not guarantee the bills will advance.
Video
Witnesses(6)
| Name | Position | Links |
|---|---|---|
| Dr. Sachin YendeU.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration | Chief Medical Officer | |
| Mr. Jim WhaleyMission Roll Call | Chief Executive Officer | |
| Mr. Patrick MurrayVeterans of Foreign Wars | Director, National Legislative Service | |
| Ms. Beth MurphyU.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Benefits Administration | Acting Principal Deputy Undersecretary for Benefits | |
| Ms. Tracey TheritU.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration | Chief Human Capital Officer | |
| The Honorable Max RoseVet Voice Foundation | Senior Advisor |
HearingHouseMarkup
Mar 4, 2025 · 19:00
H.R. 1041, Veterans 2nd Amendment Protection Act and H.R. 472, The Restore VA Accountability Act of 2025
Summary
The House Committee on Veterans' Affairs held a legislative hearing on two bills affecting veterans and the Department of Veterans Affairs. H.R. 1041, the Veterans 2nd Amendment Protection Act, would prohibit the VA from reporting veterans to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) solely because they have a fiduciary managing their benefits, unless a court has determined the veteran poses a danger to themselves or others. The bill also requires the VA to notify the Attorney General that previous NICS reporting based solely on fiduciary status no longer applies. H.R. 472, the Restore VA Accountability Act of 2025, would modify personnel procedures at the VA to allow the Secretary to remove, demote, or suspend supervisors and managers based on substantial evidence of poor performance or misconduct, while providing whistleblower protections and due process rights. The hearing included testimony from VA officials, including representatives from the Veterans Benefits Administration and Veterans Health Administration, as well as Jim Whaley, CEO of Mission Roll Call, a veterans advocacy organization. The bills generated discussion among committee members, with amendments proposed reflecting different perspectives on balancing veterans' rights with VA management authority and employee protections. Key themes included concerns about due process for veterans regarding firearm rights, the relationship between financial management difficulties and danger assessments, and the appropriate balance between VA accountability and employee protections. The hearing did not result in immediate advancement of the bills, as legislative hearings are preliminary steps in the committee process before any votes on whether to advance legislation.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations.
Dec 19, 2025
HearingHouseHearing6 witnesses
Feb 25, 2025 · 19:00
Legislative Hearing on: H.R. 472, The Restore VA Accountability Act of 2025; H.R. 1041, Veterans 2nd Amendment Protection Act; Discission Draft: To amend title 38, United States Code, to prohibit the Secretary of Veterans Affairs from transmitting certain information to the Department of Justice for use by the national instant criminal background check system; H.R. 740, Veterans’ ACCESS Act of 2025; and Discussion Draft: Student Veteran Benefit Restoration Act of 2025
Summary
The House Committee on Veterans' Affairs held a legislative hearing on February 26, 2025, to examine four bills and a discussion draft addressing various veterans' issues. The bills included H.R. 472 (Restore VA Accountability Act), H.R. 1041 (Veterans 2nd Amendment Protection Act), H.R. 740 (Veterans' ACCESS Act), and H.R. 1391 (Student Veteran Benefit Restoration Act), along with a discussion draft on background check reporting. H.R. 472 would streamline disciplinary procedures at the VA by allowing the Secretary to remove, demote, or suspend supervisors and managers based on substantial evidence of performance or misconduct, while maintaining due process protections including advance notice and grievance procedures. H.R. 1041 would prohibit the VA from reporting veterans to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System solely because they have a fiduciary managing their benefits, requiring instead a court finding that the veteran poses a danger to themselves or others. H.R. 740 would improve veterans' access to community-based care by codifying access standards and establishing an online portal for veterans to manage appointments and appeals. H.R. 1391 would allow the VA to restore educational benefits to veterans defrauded by educational institutions and require those institutions to repay the government. Witnesses testifying included VA officials—Dr. Sachin Yende (Chief Medical Officer), Ms. Beth Murphy (Acting Principal Deputy Undersecretary for Benefits), and Ms. Tracey Therit (Chief Human Capital Officer)—as well as representatives from veterans organizations including Mr. Patrick Murray (Veterans of Foreign Wars), Mr. Jim Whaley (Mission Roll Call), and the Honorable Max Rose (Vet Voice Foundation). The hearing provided an opportunity for the committee to gather testimony on these legislative proposals, though the hearing itself does not guarantee the bills will advance.
Video
Witnesses(6)
| Name | Position | Links |
|---|---|---|
| Dr. Sachin YendeU.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration | Chief Medical Officer | |
| Mr. Jim WhaleyMission Roll Call | Chief Executive Officer | |
| Mr. Patrick MurrayVeterans of Foreign Wars | Director, National Legislative Service | |
| Ms. Beth MurphyU.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Benefits Administration | Acting Principal Deputy Undersecretary for Benefits | |
| Ms. Tracey TheritU.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration | Chief Human Capital Officer | |
| The Honorable Max RoseVet Voice Foundation | Senior Advisor |
HearingHouseMarkup
Mar 4, 2025 · 19:00
H.R. 1041, Veterans 2nd Amendment Protection Act and H.R. 472, The Restore VA Accountability Act of 2025
Summary
The House Committee on Veterans' Affairs held a legislative hearing on two bills affecting veterans and the Department of Veterans Affairs. H.R. 1041, the Veterans 2nd Amendment Protection Act, would prohibit the VA from reporting veterans to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) solely because they have a fiduciary managing their benefits, unless a court has determined the veteran poses a danger to themselves or others. The bill also requires the VA to notify the Attorney General that previous NICS reporting based solely on fiduciary status no longer applies. H.R. 472, the Restore VA Accountability Act of 2025, would modify personnel procedures at the VA to allow the Secretary to remove, demote, or suspend supervisors and managers based on substantial evidence of poor performance or misconduct, while providing whistleblower protections and due process rights. The hearing included testimony from VA officials, including representatives from the Veterans Benefits Administration and Veterans Health Administration, as well as Jim Whaley, CEO of Mission Roll Call, a veterans advocacy organization. The bills generated discussion among committee members, with amendments proposed reflecting different perspectives on balancing veterans' rights with VA management authority and employee protections. Key themes included concerns about due process for veterans regarding firearm rights, the relationship between financial management difficulties and danger assessments, and the appropriate balance between VA accountability and employee protections. The hearing did not result in immediate advancement of the bills, as legislative hearings are preliminary steps in the committee process before any votes on whether to advance legislation.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations.
Dec 19, 2025
Congress
119th Congress
Introduced
Jan 16, 2025
