Putting Veterans First Act Aims to Reverse Post-Jan 2025 Federal Job Actions for Military Community, Tighten VA Operations & Boost Transparency

The "Putting Veterans First Act of 2025" proposes significant changes impacting federal employment for veterans and military families, alongside major operational constraints and reporting requirements for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). At its core, the bill seeks to undo certain personnel actions taken against military community members in civil service roles since January 20, 2025, and establish new protections moving forward.

Hitting Rewind: Job Protections for Vets & Military Families

A central piece of this legislation (Section 101) is the nullification of removals, demotions, or suspensions of veterans, military spouses, caregivers, survivors, and reserve component members in federal jobs that occurred between January 20, 2025, and the bill's enactment date. Affected individuals would be entitled to back pay and restored benefits, essentially hitting rewind on these personnel actions. Looking ahead, Section 102 introduces safeguards against future group removals and requires specific performance documentation or supervisory approval for adverse actions against these employees. Agencies would also face new annual reporting duties (Section 103) on hiring, separation, and retention efforts for these groups, with the Comptroller General tasked (Section 104) with a broader review of their federal employment trends by 2027.

Fortifying the VA: Limits on Cuts, Closures, and Policy Shifts

The bill places considerable focus on stabilizing VA operations. Hiring freezes would be restricted unless the Secretary certifies they won't increase costs and provides Congress 90 days' notice (Section 201). Closing or realigning VA offices would require specific legal authorization and a one-year notice (Section 202). Similarly, major changes to telework policies require a year's advance notice to Congress, unions, and employees (Section 203). Even rescinding final job offers faces limitations (Section 204). Reductions in force (RIFs) demand detailed justification 180 days in advance, proving no negative impact on veterans or increased costs (Section 205). The bill also mandates more frequent updates to the VA's public staffing vacancy website (Section 206) and prohibits the VA Secretary from simultaneously leading another federal agency (Section 208).

Undoing Changes & Demanding Answers: VA Accountability Measures

The Act aims to reverse several actions taken since January 20, 2025. Section 212 invalidates VA employee removals during this period (similar to Section 101 but VA-specific), mandates the restoration of removed public materials and websites, restarts canceled research projects, and specifically requires withdrawal of a February 12, 2025, flag display directive. On the financial side, Section 703 requires the VA to reinstate contracts canceled in "mass cancellations" since January 20, 2025, and sets strict reporting conditions before any future mass cancellations (Section 704). The VA must also provide quarterly reports on the financial impact of efficiency measures (Section 702) and notify Congress 60 days before altering the charge card program (Section 705).

Beyond the VA: Civil Servant Rights and Locking Down Data

Wider protections for civil servants are included. The President would need to nominate someone for Merit Systems Protection Board vacancies within 30 days (Section 301). The bill also modifies appeal rights for probationary employees (Section 302), allows employees to retract deferred resignation agreements (Section 303), and limits moving positions from competitive to excepted service without employee consent or a two-year notice (Section 304). Critically, Title VI imposes strict controls on who can access VA data and systems (Section 601), requiring non-VA personnel to meet specific clearance, ethics, and training standards. It also exempts the VA from several recent Executive Orders related to government efficiency (Section 602) and mandates reports on compliance and potential past unauthorized access (Section 603).

More Support, More Transparency: Mental Health, Job Aid, and Public Reporting

The bill includes support mechanisms for military community civil servants facing adverse job actions since January 20, 2025, requiring agencies to reimburse initial mental health costs (Section 401) and directing the VA to deploy mobile Vet Centers in certain situations (Section 402). Agencies are also barred from cutting various employee support programs below early 2025 levels until 2030, funding permitting. The President is directed to create job support initiatives (Section 501), and OPM and DOL must work to improve federal and private sector job opportunities for the military community (Section 502). Finally, Title VIII significantly boosts transparency, mandating the weekly public release of the detailed VA "Monday Morning Workload Report" (Section 801), more granular data on appeals outcomes (Section 802), and community care wait times (Section 803). The VA Secretary is also given firm deadlines (15-45 business days) to respond to congressional inquiries (Section 804).