S. 124 · Where this bill is now
In committee
Introduced in the Senate, Jan 16, 2025
What this bill does
In plain words · AI-written from the official summaryChanges how VA can discipline its supervisors
This bill gives the Department of Veterans Affairs clearer rules for removing, demoting, or suspending its supervisors and managers when performance or misconduct is a problem. The VA would have to show substantial evidence that the action is warranted. Supervisors and managers facing these actions would have the right to advance notice, legal representation, and an internal grievance process. The bill also protects whistleblowers and those reporting discrimination from facing these disciplinary actions.
How it affects you
If you work as a supervisor or manager at the VA, this affects how you could be disciplined and what protections you have in that process. For veterans and the public, this aims to hold VA leadership accountable for their performance and conduct, though the official summary doesn't spell out direct effects on individuals using VA services.
Read the official summary (Introduced in Senate, Jan 16, 2025)
Restore Department of Veterans Affairs Accountability Act of 2025 or the Restore VA Accountability Act of 2025
This 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).
Written by AI (Claude) using only the official summary by the Congressional Research Service, the Library of Congress’s nonpartisan research staff. It can miss nuance, so check the official summary and the bill text for details.
1st SessionS. 124
A BILL
Restore VA Accountability Act of 2025
Sponsor: Sen. Jerry Moran (R-KS) · Introduced Jan 16, 2025 · Armed Forces and National Security · 1 version of the text
Sources: Congress.gov actions and votes · bill text from GovInfo · latest official action Mar 11, 2025: “Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 119-35.”
Sections
Sections · 4
- Sec. 1Short titleNo change
- Sec. 2Supervisors: removal, demotion, or suspension based on performance or misconductNo change
- Sec. 3Senior executives: modification of procedures to remove, demote, or suspend based on performance or misconductNo change
- Sec. 4Modification of disciplinary procedures for employees of the Department of Veterans AffairsNo change