Bills
| 3.23.22

Should VA Employees' Misconduct Stay on Their Permanent Records? (H.R. 27)

Do you support or oppose this bill?

What is H.R. 27?

(Updated April 10, 2018)

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

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.

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. 27

A CBO estimate is unavailable.

Additional Info

In Depth: Sponsoring Rep. Ryan Costello (R-PA) also introduced this bill in the 114th Congress. It was passed unanimously by the House, but was never considered by the Senate before the session concluded.

Costello explained why the current VA disciplinary structure is failing to produce better outcomes for veterans who need healthcare:

"Part of the systemic problems with the Department of Veterans' Affairs stem from the fact that current policy prevents the keeping of complete employee files and does not allow the at-fault employees to be tracked or held accountable. It is critical to maintain a complete record of a poor performer in order to better understand an employee as long as they are with the Department. We must hold employees accountable for their actions and that is why I am proud to author this legislation."


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(Photo Credit: Flickr user petukhov.anton)