VET Act of 2025

This bill sets up a Department of Labor grant program to help service members, veterans, and their spouses get jobs in the energy industry. It encourages energy employers to hire and train them by offering funds to cover real hiring costs like licenses, certifications, training, recruiting, and relocation. The program works with existing transition programs (like TAP and SkillBridge) so people don’t have to navigate a bunch of separate systems. It also gives extra consideration to small businesses, companies in “opportunity zones,” and job seekers facing bigger barriers, such as disability or homelessness.

Employers can receive up to $10,000 for each eligible hire and up to $500,000 per year. The bill authorizes $60 million per year for 2026 through 2031, with a cap on administrative overhead so most money goes to actual jobs and training. The Labor Department must coordinate with Defense and VA and report on how it’s working, with a full evaluation due by 2030.

• Who is affected: members of the Armed Forces preparing to separate, veterans, and their spouses; energy employers, including small businesses.
• What changes: grants to employers for hiring and training; preference for applicants with energy-related skills, those in opportunity zones, or those facing barriers like disability or homelessness.
• What employers qualify: companies that generate, transmit, store, or distribute energy, or make key energy equipment.
• How much: up to $10,000 per hire; up to $500,000 per employer per year; $60 million per year overall (2026–2031).
• When: funding begins in fiscal year 2026; a full program review is due by September 30, 2030.