Limitations on hiring freezes at Department of Veterans Affairs

(a) Limitation Neither a position nor an employee at the Department of Veterans Affairs may be subject to a hiring freeze, hiring prohibition, or similar policy— (1) unless the Secretary determines that unfilled positions or lack of staff subject to such a freeze will not result in increased costs to the Department; and (2) until the date that is 90 days after the date that the Secretary of Veterans Affairs submits a report regarding the hiring freeze pursuant to subsection (b). (b) Report Before issuing any hiring freeze, hiring prohibition, or similar policy, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives a report on the hiring strategy of the Secretary and budgetary proof that such a freeze, hiring prohibition, or similar policy will not cause increased costs to the Department.