VA Leadership Bill Doubles Political Appointments, Creates Two New Senate-Confirmed Roles

The “Accountable Leadership for Veterans Act of 2025” is a short bill that makes two significant structural changes to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) leadership structure. If passed, this legislation would immediately impact who runs the VA and how much control political appointees have over the agency’s day-to-day operations.

The Political Power Play: Doubling the Noncareer Slots

First, the bill amends Section 709(a)(1) of title 38, United States Code, to double the number of Senior Executive Service (SES) positions at the VA that can be filled by “noncareer appointees.” Right now, only 5% of these top management jobs can be political appointments. This bill raises that limit to 10%. The SES is the layer of government management just below the presidential appointees—they are the people who manage huge budgets and thousands of employees, ensuring programs run consistently. Career SES members are civil servants who stay through different administrations, providing institutional memory. By doubling the noncareer slots, an incoming administration gains the ability to rapidly install political allies into twice as many key operational roles. While this could mean faster implementation of a new agenda, it also means that up to one in ten top managers could lack deep VA institutional knowledge, potentially leading to instability or service hiccups for veterans if the learning curve is steep.

Accountability or Bureaucracy? New Leadership Roles

The second major change creates two new, powerful leadership positions: the Under Secretary for Health (SEC. 3) and the Under Secretary for Benefits (SEC. 4). Both of these roles would be appointed by the President and, crucially, require confirmation by the Senate. Currently, the VA Secretary oversees the entire agency, which is often criticized for being too large and complex to manage effectively. By creating dedicated, Senate-confirmed leaders for the two biggest areas—veterans' healthcare and their benefits claims—the bill aims to increase focus and accountability. For a veteran trying to get a timely disability rating or access specialized care, having a single, high-level person whose job is solely to manage the Benefits system could theoretically lead to better, more focused service delivery.

The Real-World Trade-Off

This bill presents a classic trade-off between political control and institutional stability. On one hand, creating dedicated, Senate-confirmed Under Secretaries for Health and Benefits injects a higher level of accountability and focus into two critical areas. This could be a win for veterans who need specific services. On the other hand, doubling the allowance for noncareer SES appointments gives the administration significantly more power to bypass career civil servants. This is where the risk lies: if too many experienced hands are replaced by politically aligned newcomers, the day-to-day operations—the processing of claims, the management of hospital logistics, the continuity of care—could suffer from a lack of expertise, potentially leaving veterans waiting longer for essential services or facing inconsistent policy changes.