Improvements to hiring of entry-level acquisition positions in Department of Veterans Affairs

(a) Priority use of internship programs for hiring into entry-level positions in acquisitions The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall prioritize the use of acquisition internship programs to hire employees to entry-level positions relating to acquisition in the Department of Veterans Affairs. (b) Annual number of participants in acquisition internship programs (1) In general Not later than September 30 of the first fiscal year beginning after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall take such actions as may be necessary to ensure that the annual number of participants in acquisition internship programs of the Department is— (A) not fewer than twice the number of participants in such programs during fiscal year 2025; and (B) not more than 4 times the number of participants in such programs during such fiscal year. (2) Termination The requirements of paragraph (1) shall terminate on the date on which the Secretary certifies to the appropriate committees of Congress that the projected number of graduates of acquisition internship programs is sufficient to satisfy the human capital needs of the Department with respect to acquisition, taking into account the rate of attrition and projected retirements of personnel. (3) Appropriate committees of Congress defined In this subsection, the term appropriate committees of Congress means the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives.