Should VA Employee’s Misconduct Stay on Their Permanent Records? (H.R. 1038)

What is H.R. 1038?

(Updated July 18, 2017)

This bill seeks to increase accountability at the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (VA) by changing the way it manages disciplinary records.

The VA, like many institutions, maintains a structure for disciplining its employees. Two of the less-severe punishments (not necessarily firing or suspensions) are admonishments (for “minor misconduct”) and reprimands (for “misconduct”). They’re essentially letters to the employee telling them how they messed up.

Under current law, admonishments stay in an employees’ file for two years, reprimands for three. This bill would keep the reprimand or admonishment on file as long as an employee works for the VA.

Argument in favor

This bill would ensure that the misconducts made by VA employees are not forgotten. After recent controversies, it’s important that mistakes made by employees of the agency be well-documented.

Argument opposed

The VA is certainly in need of more oversight. But reprimands and admonishments are given for stuff like showing up late. The real problem of the VA is in its structure and leadership, not just some guy or gal showing up late a few too many times.

Impact

VA employees, managers at the VA, veterans and service members, taxpayers.

Cost of H.R. 1038

A CBO estimate is unavailable.

Additional Info

In Depth: Poor, lonely Rep. Ryan Costello (R-PA). This bill has no cosponsors. Maybe sit with him at lunch?

This bill is one in a couple pieces of legislation that the House is voting on to regulate the VA this session. There’s The Department of Veterans’ Affairs Budget Planning Reform Act of 2015, which would require the VA to submit a bunch of new reports to Congress and the VA Accountability Act, which would make it easier to fire VA employees. These bill come after a 2014 scandal in which it was revealed that the VA manipulated wait times last year.

Media:

• Sponsoring Rep. Ryan Costello (R-PA) Introductory Comments
• New York Times