Sponsors (13)
The bill strengthens VA employees' rights to representation (including on-duty representation that preserves pay) and clarifies coverage, at the cost of added administrative burden, potential delays in investigations, and continued exclusion of some senior appointees.
VA employees (covered veterans and other VA federal employees) gain a clear right to have a chosen representative present during investigatory examinations, and—when applicable—may have that representation while on duty so their pay is preserved.
The bill clarifies which VA personnel are covered and which categories (e.g., certain senior executives and political appointees) are excluded, reducing uncertainty about who receives these protections.
Allowing representation during examinations could slow disciplinary and investigatory processes, delaying resolution of misconduct or performance matters for VA employees.
Requiring managers to accommodate representation on duty time and coordinate schedules may increase administrative burden and complicate staffing at VA facilities.
Some senior leaders and certain appointees are explicitly excluded from the new protections, so those individuals will not receive representation rights during examinations.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Gives most Department of Veterans Affairs employees the statutory right to a chosen representative during examinations they reasonably believe may lead to disciplinary action, with specified exclusions.
Introduced November 10, 2025 by Delia Ramirez · Last progress November 10, 2025
Creates a statutory right for most Department of Veterans Affairs employees to have a representative of their choice present during any management examination that the employee reasonably believes could result in disciplinary action, if the employee requests representation. The right covers representation during on-duty time when applicable and excludes certain senior executives, specified appointees, and political appointees by reference to existing title 38 definitions.