A March reduction in force memo from the VA outlined plans to return that workforce to its 2019 force level of around 400,000 employees, representing a total cut of more than 70,000 workers. Image: bluestork/Shutterstock.com
By: FEDweek StaffThe Department of Veterans Affairs has announced plans to reduce the time veterans and their dependents wait for their disability and benefits claims to be resolved.
“The last thing survivors need in their time of grief is frustrating red tape and bureaucracy,” VA Secretary Doug Collins said. “That’s why we are creating a better system to more quickly and effectively provide survivors the services, support and compassion they’ve earned.”
Changes include:
· Moving oversight of VA’s survivor assistance office to the office of the VA secretary, from the Veterans Benefits Administration.
· Establishing an outreach team to help eligible survivors navigate the Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) claims process.
· Determining when and where automation could make it easier for survivors to move through the DIC claims process.
A March reduction in force memo from the VA outlined plans to return that workforce to its 2019 force level of around 400,000 employees, representing a total cut of more than 70,000 workers.
“VA, in partnership with our DOGE leads, will move out aggressively, while taking a pragmatic and disciplined approach to identify and eliminate waste, reduce management and bureaucracy, reduce footprint, and increase workforce efficiency,” said the internal memo dated March 4, adding that some of the savings would be reinvested.
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