Federal government agency, VA, to impose limitations on its staff size,remove certain positions, and implement stricter regulations for employment recruitment
The Veterans Affairs (VA) Department is undergoing a significant reorganization, with VA Secretary Doug Collins setting a new staffing baseline for the department effective October 1. This move is part of a broader VA-wide review of its mission and structure.
As of July 1, the VA had more than 40,000 vacant positions, not including employees on paid leave after taking the "deferred resignation" offer. By the end of September, all "excess positions" above the secretary's approved baseline will be eliminated from VA's HR Smart database.
Starting October 1, VA components cannot create new positions above the secretary's baseline without special permission. Each office is still waiting for their approved staffing cap, with each unit receiving them "soon," determined by department performance and mission needs.
The new staffing baseline will lead to individual baselines for major departmental offices, including administration-health, benefits, and cemeteries offices, as well as staff offices. Each of these offices is required to create organizational charts showing current and proposed staffing levels, due next week.
The VA is eliminating positions that exceed their new staffing caps, primarily impacting vacant or soon-to-be vacant jobs. However, the expectation is that some number of unfilled positions will be eliminated, but not those currently staffed.
Any staffing above designated levels must be supported by a documented mission requirement, statutory authority, or approved programmatic need. The department's Manpower Management Service will conduct a final clearing out of positions exceeding the secretary's caps in October.
Mark Engelbaum, a VA assistant secretary, stated that the new staffing baseline was determined "in conjunction with the enterprise-wide review." All undersecretaries, assistant secretaries, and key officials throughout VA will set their own staffing caps.
The VA currently has 461,000 total employees, or around 452,000 full-time staff. The person who will establish a general basis for the staff of the Veterans Affairs Department on October 1 has not been specified, and additional details required for this basis have not been provided.
The VA is planning to cut 30,000 employees through various incentives and attrition. However, the department does not foresee or anticipate the need for any "large-scale" reduction in force.
This reorganization plan aims to streamline the VA's operations and ensure that resources are allocated effectively to serve the needs of veterans. The enterprise-level reviews of organizational charts will ensure compliance with the secretary's workforce baseline. The VA will continue to update the public on the progress of this reorganization plan.
