GOP's VA overhaul bill narrows some employees' rights, spurs privatization, union says

The Take Care of America’s Veterans Act also would cut some vets’ disability benefits and push the Veterans Affairs Department to bring back telework in some form.

https://www.govexec.com/management/2026/06/gops-va-overhaul-bill-narrows-some-employees-rights-spurs-privatization-union-says/414230/

This story has been updated June 17 at 10:35 a.m. ET.

Congressional Republicans last week introduced legislation they say will improve the care that veterans receive from the federal government, though Democrats and federal employee unions warn the measure will actually degrade veterans’ benefits and employees’ rights.

The Take Care of America’s Veterans Act (H.R. 9237 and S. 4744) is a package of more than 60 bills relating to the Veterans Affairs Department. Included is the Major Richard Star Act (H.R. 2102), a bill that would grant full military retirement pay to veterans who were forced to retire early due to a combat injury, as well as a provision to increase benefits to severely disabled veterans and the families of service members who died in the line of duty.

“Over the past few months, we have heard from the thousands of veteran voices who want to see Congress pass the Major Richard Star Act to grant thousands of disabled veterans the benefits they are eligible for,” said Rep. Mike Bost, R-Ill., chairman of the House Veterans Affairs Committee. “Today, I am proud to announce . . . that we have found a path forward for this bill to get it across the finish line, in addition to over 60 bipartisan bills to protect healthcare access, cut out the red tape in the VA disability benefits system, advance economic opportunities, and put veterans—not government bureaucracy—back at the center of VA’s mission—for good.”

But Democrats described the legislation’s introduction as an attempt to add partisan policies to a popular bipartisan bill—a discharge petition currently sits just five signatures short of the 218 needed to force the House to take up the Major Richard Star Act—and said the expanded benefits in the larger bill are offset by $60 billion in benefits cuts that would particularly impact veterans suffering from hearing loss and sleep apnea.

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