Workforce Support Program Boosts Recruiting Push at VA

The Department of Veterans Affairs will be implementing a new workforce support plan designed to increase recruitment and better provide for existing VA employees.
As detailed by VA Secretary Denis McDonough, the agency intends to implement these with backing from Congress with the ultimate intention of boosting workforce morale, increasing employee retention, and improving the quality and delivery of VA services as a result.
“Veteran trust scores across VA rose by 3% last quarter alone, and outpatient trust scores are now above 90%. That’s because VA employees like you fight like hell for vets every day. It’s because you provide vets with timely access to world-class health care, earned benefits and the last resting place they deserve. And it’s because you have battled through the pandemic, getting VA to the point where — despite everything — we are now delivering more care, more benefits and more services to more veterans than ever before,” McDonough said in prepared remarks to VA employees.
VA has laid out 10 provisions the agency intends to implement, broadly intended to facilitate recruitment, reward existing VA employees, and compete with the private sector for critical talent.
VA has long struggled to compete with the private sector, with the agency seeming to recognize that its broader reforms and modernization programs are contingent on fostering a talent base necessary to support these. As a consequence, the agency is substantially increasing the benefits and support given to workers while reforming its hiring process.
“Some registered nurses here in Charleston, for example, can make $15,000 more by going to the private sector, and that number is as high as $40,000 in other markets,” McDonough said.
McDonough subsequently announced plans to work with Congress to pass the RAISE Act and similar legislative proposals that would bolster the funding given to the VA workforce, encompassing maintenance and service workers to medical and technical staff. The agency will also be looking to increase both worker bonuses and retention incentives as well.
“Right now, our nursing turnover rate is the highest it’s been in 15 years. When you factor in how many of our nurses are eligible to retire, that means we’ll have to hire about 15,000 nurses a year for the next five 5 years. And, in part, that turnover rate is so high because private-sector hospitals have been able to offer bonuses and retention payments that we couldn’t match,” McDonough said.
VA intends to match these with reforms designed to make both the hiring process and working at VA an easier process for employees. The agency will be streamlining new employees onboarding while providing a scope of new benefits and support for existing workers.
As outlined in McDonough’s presentation, these new benefits will include expanded remote work options, increased childcare support and additional funding toward the agency’s scholarship programs.
“For years, VA has offered $500 a month in childcare subsidies to employees whose family income is less than $89,000 per year. Now, we’re permanently raising that cap to include families who make up to $149,000 per year,” McDonough said.
Rounding out these expansions in employee support, VA will also be working to more comprehensive include the principles outlined in its inclusion-diversity-equity-and-access (IDEA) program within its hiring and management process, as well as distributing personal protective equipment to all VA employees with the intent of boosting pandemic safety.
“We’re already in the process of hiring a chief diversity officer, and we’re integrating IDEA principles into hiring, position management and talent management,” McDonough said.
This is a carousel with manually rotating slides. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate or jump to a slide with the slide dots
-
Generative AI Demands Federal Workforce Readiness, Officials Say
NASA and DOI outline new generative AI use cases and stress that successful AI adoption depends on strong change management.
6m read -
The Next AI Wave Requires Stronger Cyber Defenses, Data Management
IT officials warn of new vulnerabilities posed by AI as agencies continue to leverage the tech to boost operational efficiency.
5m read -
Federal CIOs Push for ROI-Focused Modernization to Advance Mission Goals
CIOs focus on return on investment, data governance and application modernization to drive mission outcomes as agencies adopt new tech tools.
4m read -
Fed Efficiency Drive Includes Code-Sharing Law, Metahumans
By reusing existing code instead of rewriting it, agencies could dramatically cut costs under the soon-to-be-enacted SHARE IT Act.
5m read -
Agencies Push Data-Driven Acquisition Reforms to Boost Efficiency
New initiatives aim to increase visibility of agency spending, improve data quality and create avenues to deploy solutions across government.
5m read -
Data Transparency Essential to Government Reform, Rep. Sessions Says
Co-Chair of the Congressional DOGE Caucus Rep. Pete Sessions calls for data sharing and partnerships to reduce waste and improve efficiency.
5m read -
DOD Turns to Skills-Based Hiring to Build Next-Gen Cyber Workforce
Mark Gorak discusses DOD’s efforts to build a diverse cyber workforce, including skills-based hiring and partnerships with over 480 schools.
20m listen -
AI Foundations Driving Government Efficiency
Federal agencies are modernizing systems, managing risk and building trust to scale responsible AI and drive government efficiency.
40m watch -
Trump Executive Order Boosts HBCUs Role in Building Federal Tech Workforce
The executive order empowers HBCUs to develop tech talent pipelines and expand access to federal workforce opportunities.
3m read -
Navy Memo Maps Tech Priorities for the Future Fight
Acting CTO’s memo outlines critical investment areas, from AI and quantum to cyber and space, as part of an accelerated modernization push.
5m read -
DOD Can No Longer Assume Superiority in Digital Warfare, Officials Warn
The DOD must make concerted efforts to address cyber vulnerabilities to maintain the tactical edge, military leaders said at HammerCon 2025.
4m read -
New NSF Program Cultivates the Future of NextG Networks
The agency’s new VINES program looks to tackle key challenges like energy efficiency and future-proofing wireless tech.
21m watch