Restore VA Accountability Act of 2025
Restore VA Accountability Act of 2025
Plain Language Summary
# Summary of the Restore VA Accountability Act of 2025 (HR 472) **What the Bill Does:** This bill would make it easier for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to fire, demote, or suspend VA supervisors and managers who have performance or conduct problems. Currently, federal employees have strong job protections that require lengthy processes to remove them. Under this bill, the VA could remove these managers more quickly if there is "substantial evidence" their performance or misconduct is serious enough to warrant it. **Key Provisions and Who It Affects:** The bill applies specifically to VA supervisors and managers—not regular employees or those still in their initial probationary period.
Affected employees would still receive some protections: they'd get advance notice of the action, the chance to have a lawyer represent them, and the ability to file a grievance through an internal VA process. The bill aims to address concerns about accountability at the VA and hold leadership responsible for poor performance or misconduct. **Current Status:** The bill has been introduced in the House of Representatives (sponsored by Rep. Mike Bost, R-IL) but remains in committee, meaning it has not yet been debated or voted on by the full House.
CRS Official Summary
Restore Department of Veterans Affairs Accountability Act of 2025 or the Restore VA Accountability Act of 2025This bill modifies personnel action procedures regarding certain employees and executives of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). The bill authorizes the VA to remove from civil service, demote, or suspend VA employees that are supervisors or managers if the VA determines by substantial evidence that the performance or misconduct of such individual warrants such action. This authority does not apply to certain appointees or individuals in their probationary or trial period.Supervisors or managers who are subject to a removal, demotion, or suspension under this bill are entitled to (1) advance notice of the action and supporting evidence, (2) representation by an attorney or representative, and (3) grieve the action in accordance with an internal grievance process.The bill also provides protections from removal, demotion, or suspension for supervisor or managers who are whistleblowers or are seeking corrective action for an alleged prohibited personnel practice such as discrimination.The bill also modifies the procedures to remove, demote, or suspend VA employees or senior executives based on performance or misconduct, specifically by requiring the VA to determine by substantial evidence that the performance or misconduct of the individual warrants such removal, demotion, or suspension. Such procedures must apply retroactively, beginning on the date of enactment of the Department of Veterans Affairs Accountability and Whistleblower Protection Act of 2017 (June 23, 2017).
Latest Action
Referred to the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations.