{"id":415,"date":"2025-09-27T17:04:59","date_gmt":"2025-09-27T21:04:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/contingency-planning\/?page_id=415"},"modified":"2025-10-03T12:22:11","modified_gmt":"2025-10-03T16:22:11","slug":"human-capital-contingency-plan","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/contingency-planning\/human-capital-contingency-plan\/","title":{"rendered":"Human Capital Contingency Plan"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Agency Operations in the Absence of Appropriations<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

*As Required by the Office of Management and Budget Circular A-11<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

September 2025<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Introduction<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is committed to providing quality, consistent care and services to Veterans and their families. VA\u2019s mission allows no exception to this standard even when operations are limited by the absence of appropriations (commonly known as a \u201cGovernment shutdown\u201d). This document outlines which employees would be necessary for the Department\u2019s continued performance of activities that are \u201cexcepted,\u201d pursuant to applicable legal requirements or a separate funding source, and the employees performing activities that would be subject to furlough.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n
  • VA revised its biennial contingency plan for fiscal year (FY) 2025 through FY 2026 in accordance with Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Circular A\u201311, Section 124, dated July 2024, and OMB Memorandum M-18-05, dated January 19, 2018. Based on the instructions contained in Circular A-11, and the Anti-deficiency Act, this document details VA\u2019s lapse determinations to be implemented if appropriations are not passed by Congress or if appropriations are passed by Congress but not signed by the President before the beginning of the workday immediately following a lapse. It applies to all personnel and contractors assigned to or performing services for VA.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

    Methodology<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    The Department pursued a comprehensive approach to diminish the impact of a potential shutdown on Veterans and their family members. In doing so, VA identified functions and programs exempt from furlough or for which there is a legal basis for designating exceptions, including those required by \u201cnecessary implication\u201d and \u201cfor protection of life and property.\u201d VA Administrations and Staff Offices (A\/SO) were asked to review their organizations and identify these specific functions and programs (and the positions required to support them). A\/SO decisions were based on long-standing OMB and Department of Justice guidance, and consultation with VA\u2019s Office of General Counsel (OGC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Federal activities that are authorized to continue during a funding lapse are either exempt or \u201cexcepted\u201d activities. Federal activities financed with funds from a source other than annual appropriations are exempt and not subject to furlough during a government-wide lapse. The categories of Federal activities that may be \u201cexcepted\u201d from a shutdown are: (1) those activities expressly authorized by law; (2) those activities necessarily implied by law; (3) those activities necessary to discharge the President\u2019s constitutional duties and powers; and (4) those activities necessary to protect human life or Government property. In the Department\u2019s shutdown contingency deliberations, VA identified those functions and programs legally excepted to facilitate services the Agency must provide to the Nation\u2019s Veterans and their families. These exempt and excepted services include providing consistent, high-quality medical care, compensation and pension benefits, housing, and burial services.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    An analysis of VA functions that were impacted during the previous Government shutdowns revealed the following:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      \n
    • Beginning with FY 2011, the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) was authorized to request advance appropriations under P.L. 111-81. VHA received the FY 2013 advanced appropriation under P.L. 112-74 and has continued to receive an advance appropriation since FY 2013. As a result of the advance appropriation, medical services, medical community care, medical support and compliance, and medical facilities were minimally impacted during more recent Government shutdowns since 2013.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • Some benefit activities and payments, such as benefit adjustments and insurance, were delayed during the 2013 shutdown.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • Loan Guaranty certificates of eligibility and certificates of reasonable value were also delayed during the 2013 shutdown.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • The Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) has received advance appropriations for its entitlement programs since FY 2017.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

      In anticipation of a potential FY 2026 or FY 2027 shutdown, VA considered several factors that provide ample justification to support the number of excepted VA employees and functions in the event of a present-day shutdown.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        \n
      • Advance appropriations and two-year appropriations prior year balances are available for VHA. VHA research operations are not funded by the advance appropriation, but certain key functions that support research operations are justifiable exceptions for protecting life and property.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      • Any potential carryover balances from the prior year should be allocated to sustain continued operations until those account balances are depleted.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      • The Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act of 2022 (PACT Act) (P.L. 117-168), created the Toxic Exposures Fund (TEF) to fund health care and benefits delivery for Veterans with exposure to environmental hazards. The TEF supports activities in VHA, VBA, the Office of Information and Technology (OIT), the Board of the Veterans\u2019 Appeals (Board) and staff offices. Carryover balances in the TEF from prior years should be allocated to sustain continued operations until those accounts balances are depleted. This could result in some employees remaining in a “paid\u201d status while others performing similar work would be in an “unpaid\u201d status.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

        As directed by OMB Circular A-11, section 124.2, this plan describes VA actions to be taken for a short-term lapse (1-5 days). VA may adjust these plans if a lapse extends beyond a short-term period. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

        Agency Summary<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

        As a result of the methodology and criteria above, the Department\u2019s current projection is that 97 <\/strong>percent of VA employees would be fully funded or required to perform excepted functions during a shutdown. Approximately 417,447 employees are exempt because they are funded by an advance appropriation, multi-year funding or carryover, including 403,159 VHA employees. The total projected number of employees to be retained as \u201cexcepted\u201d under this plan who meet one of the categorical exceptions described in OMB M-18-05 criteria, is 29,178. The total number of exempt and excepted is 446,625.  The number of employees not otherwise exempt or excepted is 14,874.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        The table below provides an overview of the impact of a lapse in appropriations on the VA workforce.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        Table 1: Contingency Plan Summary Overview<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
        Contingency Plan Summary Overview1<\/sup><\/figcaption>
        Estimated time (to nearest half day) required to complete shutdown activities:<\/th>3 days average<\/em><\/td><\/tr>
        Total number of agency employees expected to be on board before implementation of the plan:<\/th>461,499<\/em><\/td><\/tr>
        Total number of agency employees expected to be furloughed under the plan
        (unduplicated count):<\/th>        		14,874<\/em><\/em><\/td><\/tr>
        Total number of employees to be retained under the plan for each of the following categories (may include duplicated count):<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
        Compensation is financed by a resource other than annual appropriations:<\/th>417,447<\/em><\/em><\/td><\/tr>
        Necessary to perform activities expressly authorized by law:<\/th>12<\/em><\/em><\/td><\/tr>
        Necessary to perform activities necessarily implied by law:<\/th>16,396<\/em><\/em><\/td><\/tr>
        Necessary to the discharge of the President’s constitutional duties and powers:<\/th>0<\/em><\/td><\/tr>
        Necessary to protect life and property:<\/th>12,773<\/em><\/em><\/td><\/tr>
        Total number of employees to be retained under the plan:<\/strong><\/th>446,628<\/em><\/strong><\/em><\/strong>2<\/sup><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
        \n
          \n
        1. Data aggregated as of March 2025 unless otherwise noted.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
        2. This table is a snapshot in time and is subject to change based on continual personnel actions. VA Administrations and Staff Offices will provide updates as required prior to a potential lapse of appropriations.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

          Summary of Significant Activities that Will Continue During Lapse<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

          The following activities will continue during a lapse of appropriations:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            \n
          • Veteran medical care and critical services within VHA will continue, as they are financed with advance appropriations. This will include suicide prevention programs, homelessness programs, the Veterans Crisis Line and caregiver support. Certain work to protect against imminent threats to life and property within VHA medical and prosthetic research will continue as an excepted function. VHA research is funded by a multi-year appropriation and will continue until funds are exhausted, after which a portion of employees may be furloughed.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
          • VBA will continue various benefit functions, such as education benefit claims processing and payments, insurance processing, loan guaranty programs, Veteran readiness and employment payment processing, VBA National Call Centers (except for education), compensation and pension claims processing and payments, decision review operations centers and management. These functions will continue as necessarily implied to prevent significant disruption to mandatory benefits programs.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
          • The National Cemetery Administration (NCA) will continue to inter Veterans and eligible family members, schedule burials and determine eligibility, process applications for headstones and markers, and update electronic files to ensure timely termination of benefits and next of kin notification of possible entitlement to survivor benefits. These functions continue as excepted to protect human life. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
          • The Board of Veterans\u2019 Appeals (the Board or BVA) will continue to render appellate decisions on Veterans\u2019 benefits cases and hold hearings to consider arguments and evidence related to those cases. VA compensation and pension benefits and education benefits are funded with other-than-annual appropriations, and the processing of appeals related to the timely and accurate payment of these entitlement benefits to or on behalf of Veterans and their dependents is necessary by implication.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
          • OIT will maintain direct and indirect information technology support to VHA, VBA, the Board and other offices as needed to maintain their exempt or excepted functions, including network maintenance and protection, information security, data center operations, excepted benefits, and enterprise infrastructure operations. OIT functions excepted as necessary to support exempt hospital functions and funded benefits programs and to protect proprietary Government systems will continue. Minimum administrative support to excepted functions (i.e., timekeeping).<\/li>\n\n\n\n
          • The Office of General Counsel (OGC) will continue to provide legal assistance and litigation support in instances where reimbursements are funded by other-than-annual appropriations and will provide legal advice and services to senior VA leadership on excepted functions identified in Table 2.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
          • The Office of Management will continue to exercise fiscal oversight, financial management services and debt management center operations, financial management systems, the time and attendance system, and other critical systems. These operations, managed through the VA Financial Services Center and Debt Management Center, are funded by the VA Franchise Fund and are therefore exempt from furlough.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
              \n
            • Human Resources and Administration\/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA\/OSP) will continue all franchise funded activities in the Center for Enterprise Human Resources Information Services; Human Capital Services Center; Law Enforcement Training Center; and Personnel Security Adjudication Center. Due to funding reimbursed from other-than-annual sources, HRA\/OSP will also continue providing services to either VHA, VA Central Office (VACO) campus property, or other VA customers through the Alternative Dispute Resolution Program, Childcare Subsidy Program, VACO Personal Identity Verification (PIV) Card Office, and VACO Human Resources Services. To protect life and property, HRA\/OSP will manage resources necessary to support law enforcement activities, executive protection, safety and security measures, emergency response efforts and limited executive operational HR services.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
            • The Office of Acquisition, Logistics, and Construction (OALC) will continue to provide services to protect Government property interests, including exempt acquisition operations, policy and logistics, lease build-out activities, and management of VA\u2019s major construction that are funded from other-than-annual appropriations. In the absence of carryover, such functions would continue only as necessary for protection of Government property and for the orderly cessation of government functions in the event of a shutdown.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
            • The Veterans Experience Office (VEO) will maintain call center operations for MyVA411 and the PACT Act Contact Center as necessary to prevent disruption to mandatory VA benefit programs and to protect the health and safety of Veterans relying on accessible health care through VHA.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
            • The Electronic Health Records Modernization Integration Office will continue normal operations providing Departmental oversight of the critical mission of transitioning VA to a new electronic health record system. These activities would continue using available carryover from multi-year appropriations and are, therefore, exempt so long as carryover remains available.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
            • Completion of existing duties for Employment Discrimination Complaint Adjudication within the Office of the Secretary is an exempt function relying on other-than-annual appropriations. The Office of the Secretary will also continue providing services to VHA through the Office of Resolution Management.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
            • The functions of the Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization within the Office of the Secretary are funded by the VA Supply Fund and are therefore exempt from furlough.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
            • VA call centers will continue operations, except for the VBA Education Call Center (the GI Bill Hotline: 888-GIBILL-1 or 888-442-4551) and the NCA Applicant Assistance Unit call center.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

              Summary of Significant Activities that Will Cease During Lapse<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

              The following agency activities will cease during a lapse of appropriations:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                \n
              • VHA research functions, including those supported by grants will cease after multi-year funding is exhausted, and employees not excepted are placed in furlough status.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
              • Certain VBA functions, including the Education Call Center (the GI Bill Hotline: 888-GIBILL-1 or 888-442-4551); The Native American Veterans Direct Loan program (NAVDL) and the Vendee Loan program which offers direct loans will cease. Veteran outreach to include Veteran Readiness and Employment (also known as Chapter 31 or VR&E) and Personalized Career Planning and Guidance (PCPG), or VA Chapter 36 will be suspended.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
              • VBA Transition Assistance Programs (TAP) will be suspended.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
              • VBA administrative functions including data analytics; human resources; budget activities; risk management oversight; investment planning and customer support; requirements, testing, and deployment support; support for Enterprise Health Record Modernization (EHRM) and interoperability; coordination and implementation of automated support tools; stakeholder engagement, public contact, and VSignals service recovery; Government Accountability Office (GAO)\/Office of the Inspector General (OIG) tracking; and National Call Center monitoring and quality control.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
              • Permanent headstone or marker installation by NCA employees; grounds maintenance (mowing, trimming, mulching or other landscape management); processing of new Presidential Memorial Certificates (PMC) or pre-need applications; and awarding of new grants as part of the Veterans Cemetery Grant Program. (Minimal NCA central office staffing, such as HR, Finance, Budget, Contracting, etc. will be available to support the field in interment operations). NCA Applicant Assistance Unit call center will be closed. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
              • Certain legal services provided by OGC, including tribunal and routine legal services for VHA, VBA, NCA and Staff Offices regarding personnel law, ethics, torts, and other legal matters not related to exempt functions.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
              • Functions provided by the Office of Accountability and Whistleblower Protection (OAWP), including among others receiving, reviewing, and investigating allegations of misconduct or poor performance involving a VA senior leader or whistleblower retaliation by any VA supervisor; receiving and referring other whistleblower disclosures; providing advice, reports, and recommendations to the Secretary on all matters relating to accountability; and tracking and confirming the implementation of GAO, OIG, Office of Medical Inspector (OMI), and Office of Special Counsel (OSC) reports and recommendations.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
              • Liaison support within the Office of the Secretary to Women and Minority Veterans and Veteran Service Organizations.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
              • Department-level oversight and policy functions provided by HRA\/OSP, in the areas of human capital management; occupational safety and health; labor relations; personnel security and suitability; and emergency planning and training. Nearly all operational HR services for senior executives and political appointees. Nearly all VACO facilities and support services.  <\/li>\n\n\n\n
              • All IT functions that are not covered under OMB exception categories including: IT application management, enterprise portfolio management, demand management (business needs, architecture, engineering, cloud solutions, modernization applications), and the Financial Management Business Transformation Program (financial and acquisition management).<\/li>\n\n\n\n
              • Non-excepted financial and budget functions within the Office of Management, including routine operations performed by VA Chief Financial Officer, oversight, and analysis; improper Payment Elimination and Recovery Act and Fraud, Waste, and Abuse support services, asset management functions (e.g., strategic capital investment planning, energy, management program, and enhanced-use lease program), and finance policy operations.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
              • Public affairs services provided by the Office of Public and Intergovernmental Affairs (OPIA), to include interactions with the media including news releases and answering queries; Veteran outreach through both digital and traditional engagement; outreach to international, state, county, municipal, faith-based and community-based partners that interface with Veterans at the local level; outreach to tribal governments, to Pacific Islanders, and to rural Veterans; and speechwriting support to the SECVA, the Deputy Secretary and VA Chief of Staff.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

                Table 2: VA Contingency Plan Onboard vs. Excepted Employees by Administration or Staff Office (as of October 2023)3<\/sup><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
                \n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n
                VA Contingency Plan Onboard vs. Excepted Employees by Administration or Staff Office<\/caption>\n
                Administration\/ Staff Office Name<\/th>\n Exempt (Fully Funded)<\/th>\n Performing Excepted Functions – Exception Category<\/th>\n Total<\/th>\n Percent Excepted or Exempt<\/th>\n <\/tr>\n
                Total Onboard<\/th>\n Compensation is financed by other than annual appropriations<\/th>\n Necessary to perform activities expressly authorized by law<\/th>\n Necessary to perform activities necessarily implied by law<\/th>\n Necessary to the discharge of the President’s constitutional duties and powers<\/th>\n Necessary to protect life and property<\/th>\n <\/tr>\n <\/thead>\n
                TOTAL<\/th>\n 461,499<\/td>\n 417,4474<\/sup><\/td>\n 12<\/td>\n 16,396<\/td>\n 0<\/td>\n 12,773<\/td>\n 446,628<\/td>\n 97%<\/td>\n <\/tr>\n <\/tfoot>\n
                VHA<\/th>\n 403,159<\/td>\n 403,159<\/td>\n 0<\/td>\n 0<\/td>\n 0<\/td>\n\t\t\t 0<\/td>\n 403,159<\/td>\n 100%<\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
                VHA (Medical and Prosthetic Research)<\/th>\n 4,440<\/td>\n 0<\/td>\n 0<\/td>\n 0<\/td>\n 0<\/td>\n\t\t\t 2,985<\/td>\n 2,985<\/td>\n 67%<\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
                VBA<\/th>\n 34,472 <\/td>\n 9,582<\/td>\n 1<\/td>\n 14,971<\/td>\n 0<\/td>\n 1,300<\/td>\n 25,854<\/td>\n 75%<\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
                NCA<\/th>\n 2,407 <\/td>\n 0<\/td>\n 1<\/td>\n 0<\/td>\n 0<\/td>\n 1,783<\/td>\n 1,784<\/td>\n 74%<\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
                OIT<\/th>\n 8,307<\/td>\n 581<\/td>\n 0<\/td>\n 0<\/td>\n 0<\/td>\n 6,187<\/td>\n 6,768<\/td>\n 81%<\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
                BVA<\/th>\n 1,435 <\/td>\n 0<\/td>\n 1<\/td>\n 1,336<\/td>\n 0<\/td>\n 0<\/td>\n 1,337<\/td>\n 93%<\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
                HRA\/OSP<\/th>\n 775<\/td>\n 410<\/td>\n 1<\/td>\n 2<\/td>\n 0<\/td>\n 70<\/td>\n 483<\/td>\n 62%<\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
                OALC<\/th>\n 1,397<\/td>\n 1,397<\/td>\n 0<\/td>\n 0<\/td>\n 0<\/td>\n 0<\/td>\n 1,397<\/td>\n 100%<\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
                OGC<\/th>\n 886 <\/td>\n 176<\/td>\n 0<\/td>\n 24<\/td>\n 0<\/td>\n 123<\/td>\n 323<\/td>\n 36%<\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
                OPIA<\/th>\n 75<\/td>\n 0<\/td>\n 1<\/td>\n 0<\/td>\n 0<\/td>\n 0<\/td>\n 1<\/td>\n 1%<\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
                OCLA<\/th>\n 43<\/td>\n 0<\/td>\n 0<\/td>\n 5<\/td>\n 0<\/td>\n 0<\/td>\n 7<\/td>\n 9%<\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
                OAWP<\/th>\n 134<\/td>\n 0<\/td>\n 0<\/td>\n 2<\/td>\n 0<\/td>\n 0<\/td>\n 2<\/td>\n 1%<\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
                VEO<\/th>\n 315<\/td>\n 84<\/td>\n 1<\/td>\n 0<\/td>\n 0<\/td>\n 103<\/td>\n 188<\/td>\n 60%<\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
                OEI<\/th>\n 71<\/td>\n 0<\/td>\n 1<\/td>\n 0<\/td>\n 0<\/td>\n 0<\/td>\n 1<\/td>\n 1%<\/td>\n <\/tr>\n \n
                OM<\/th>\n 1,679<\/td>\n 1,391<\/td>\n 1<\/td>\n 7<\/td>\n 0<\/td>\n 0<\/td>\n 1,399<\/td>\n 83%<\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
                OIG<\/th>\n 1,162<\/td>\n 0<\/td>\n 0<\/td>\n 40<\/td>\n 0<\/td>\n 222<\/td>\n 262<\/td>\n 23%<\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
                EHRM-IO<\/th>\n 250<\/td>\n 250<\/td>\n 0<\/td>\n 0<\/td>\n 0<\/td>\n 0<\/td>\n 250<\/td>\n 100%<\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
                OSVA<\/th>\n 492<\/td>\n 417<\/td>\n 2<\/td>\n 9<\/td>\n 0<\/td>\n 0<\/td>\n 428<\/td>\n 87%<\/td>\n <\/tr>\n <\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
                \n
                  \n
                1. This table is a snapshot in time as of March 2025 and is subject to change based on continual personnel actions. Administrations and Staff Offices will provide updates as required prior to a potential lapse of appropriations.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                2. Details on what functions are included in Exempt and Excepted categories can be found in Table 4, Description of Exempt or Excepted Functions. The fully funded, compensation financed by other than annual appropriations column includes advance appropriations (VHA medical care, VBA Compensation and Pensions and Readjustment Benefits); multi-year appropriations (such EHRM-IO and activities supported by the Toxic Exposures Fund (TEF)), Revolving Funds (Supply Fund and Franchise fund supporting parts of OALC, OM, OIT, and others). The fully funded column does not include staff that may be financed by a limited amount of carryover funding in appropriations that have carryover authority.  <\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

                  Table 3: VA Functions to be Suspended by Administration or Staff Office<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
                  \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n
                  Administration or Staff Office<\/th>\n Description of Functions to be Suspended<\/th>\n <\/tr>\n <\/thead>\n
                  VHA<\/th>\n None, during a short-term period in which there is no continuing resolution or full-year appropriations act.\u00a0 If such a period continued for several weeks and multi-year funding for research was exhausted, VHA functions that include grant-funded research projects will cease. VHA research programs will suspend during furlough.<\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
                  VBA<\/th>\n Administration to include data analytics, some human resources functions, budget activities, risk management oversight, investment planning and customer support; requirements, testing, and deployment support; EHRM and interoperability support; communications to include stakeholder engagement, public contact, and VSignals service recovery; coordination and implementation of automated support tools; GAO\/OIG tracking; National Call Center compliance, personalized career planning for Veterans. VBA Transition Assistance Programs (TAP) will be suspended. The Education Call Center (the GI Bill Hotline: 888-GIBILL-1 or 888-442-4551); the Native American Veterans Direct Loan program (NAVDL) and the Vendee loan program which offers direct loans will cease operations. Veteran outreach to include Veteran Readiness and Employment (also known as Chapter 31 or VR&E) and Personalized Career Planning and Guidance (PCPG), or VA Chapter 36 will be suspended.<\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
                  NCA<\/th>\n Permanent headstone or marker installation by NCA employees; grounds maintenance (mowing, trimming, mulching or other landscape management); processing of new Presidential Memorial Certificates (PMC) or pre-need applications; and awarding of new grants as part of the Veterans Cemetery Grant Program. NCA Applicant Assistance Unit call center will be closed.<\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
                  OIT<\/th>\n All IT functions that are not covered under OMB exception categories, including IT application management, enterprise portfolio management, demand management (business needs, architecture, engineering, cloud solutions, modernization applications), and the Financial Management Business Transformation Program (financial and acquisition management).<\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
                  BVA<\/th>\n Administration functions (FOIA\/privacy, quality review, litigation support and customer experience, records management, human resources, logistics, planning, technical infrastructure, knowledge management (training), budget and internal controls, Office of the Chief of Staff, VSO liaison, and strategic engagement\/communications).<\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
                  HRA\/OSP<\/th>\n Department-level oversight and policy functions provided by HRA\/OSP in the areas of human capital management; occupational safety and health; labor relations; personnel security and suitability; and emergency planning and training. Nearly all operational HR services, VACO facilities and support services.<\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
                  OALC<\/th>\n None.<\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
                  OGC<\/th>\n

                  Tribunal and routine legal services for VHA, VBA, NCA and Staff Offices regarding personnel law, ethics, torts, and other legal matters not necessary for exempt or excepted functions. <\/p><\/td>\n <\/tr>\n

                  OPIA<\/th>\n Public affairs interactions with the media including news releases and answering queries; Veteran outreach through both digital and traditional engagement; outreach to international, state, county, municipal, faith-based, and community-based partners that interface with Veterans at the local level; outreach to tribal governments to Pacific Islanders and to rural Veterans; and speechwriting support to the SECVA, Deputy Secretary and VA Chief of Staff. <\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
                  OCLA<\/th>\n Significantly diminished Congressional relations, including delays in responding to congressional requests for information, processing testimony, hearing preparation, constituent casework, fulfilling reporting requirements and questions for the record, Congressional correspondence, GAO coordination, office administrative functions.<\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
                  OAWP<\/th>\n Functions provided by the Office of Accountability and Whistleblower Protection (OAWP), including among others receiving, reviewing, and investigating allegations of misconduct or poor performance involving a VA senior leader or whistleblower retaliation by any VA supervisor; receiving and referring other whistleblower disclosures; providing advice, reports, and recommendations to the Secretary on all matters relating to accountability; and tracking and confirming the implementation of GAO, OIG, Office of Medical Inspector (OMI), and Office of Special Counsel (OSC) reports and recommendations.<\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
                  VEO<\/th>\n VA.gov component management (i.e. VA Profile, VBA debt management, eBenefits, Login.gov, etc.); Veterans Experience Action Center events and support; Federal Advisory Committee activities; Veteran (VSignals) and employee (Esignals) survey configuration\/management and results processing (non-VHA); customer experience consultative services (non-VHA); VA Customer Experience (CX) Institute; CX\/EX engagements\/training (non-VHA); #VetResources newsletter publication, performance dashboards, VEO outreach and other visual design products. <\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
                  OEI<\/th>\n Strategic planning, performance management, evidence-based valuation, VA governance functions, data management, statistical analysis, predictive modeling, policy analysis, integration activities and collaboration through the Joint Executive Committee.<\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
                  OM<\/th>\n Financial and budget functions within the Office of Management, including routine operations performed by VA Chief Financial Officer, including oversight, and analysis; improper Payment Elimination and Recovery Act and Fraud, Waste, and Abuse support services, asset management functions (e.g., strategic capital investment planning, energy management program, and enhanced-use lease program), and finance policy operations.<\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
                  OIG<\/th>\n

                  After exhausting carryover, most non-law enforcement functions would be suspended, including audits and evaluations, health care inspections, special reviews, and non-essential administrative support. <\/p><\/td>\n <\/tr>\n \n

                  EHRM-IO<\/th>\n None, if multi-year funding is sufficient to maintain operations.<\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
                  OSVA<\/th>\n Administrative operations, protocol, mission travel, executive correspondence support, advisory and liaison support to women and minority Veterans, and Veterans Service Organizations.<\/td>\n <\/tr>\n <\/tbody>\n <\/table>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

                  Table 4: Description of Exempt or Excepted Functions<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
                  \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n
                  \n <\/caption>\n
                  Office<\/th>\n Description of Exempt or Excepted Functions<\/th>\n <\/tr>\n <\/thead>\n
                  VHA<\/th>\n

                  403,159 Exempt, includes<\/p>\n

                    \n
                  • Functions funded by four medical care appropriations which have an advance appropriation for FY 2024<\/li>\n
                  • Employees of the Veterans Canteen Service, which is funded by a revolving fund.<\/li>\n <\/ul>\n

                    2,985 Excepted, includes<\/p>\n

                      \n
                    • 2,895 Medical and prosthetic research positions necessary to protect against imminent threats to life and property.<\/li>\n <\/ul><\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
                  VBA<\/th>\n

                  9,582 Exempt, includes<\/p>\n

                    \n
                  • Staff funded by the <\/li>\n
                      \n
                    • Toxic Exposures Fund (TEF), a multi-year appropriation.<\/li>\n
                    • Insurance Service \u2013 Funded through Trust Fund Reimbursement.\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0<\/li>\n <\/ul>\n <\/ul>\n

                      16,272 Excepted, includes<\/p>\n

                        \n
                      • 1 position authorized by law, which is the Under Secretary for Benefits.<\/li>\n
                      • 14,971 necessarily implied by law which are claims processors doing work to grant Veterans benefits which are appropriated by advance funding in the compensation and pension, readjustment benefits, and Veterans Insurance and Indemnities appropriations accounts. Also includes finance center staff making payments to Veterans.\u00a0 Also includes Senior Leaders managing orderly cessation of Federal activities in the event of a shutdown, overseeing excepted employees and functions, recalling employees. \u00a0\u00a0<\/li>\n
                      • 1,300 to protect life and property through the National Call Centers (except Education), which serve to protect the date of claim for Veterans seeking benefits.<\/li>\n <\/ul><\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
                  NCA<\/th>\n

                  1,784 Excepted, includes<\/p>\n

                    \n
                  • 1 position authorized by law, which is the Under Secretary of Memorial Affairs.<\/li>\n
                  • 1,783 Staff working to protect life and property as described in Table 2.\u00a0 <\/li>\n <\/ul><\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
                  OIT<\/th>\n

                  581 Exempt, includes<\/p>\n

                    \n
                  • Functions funded by the TEF, a multi-year appropriation, the Franchise Fund (a revolving fund) and reimbursable funding received from VHA with an advance appropriation.<\/li>\n <\/ul>\n

                    6,187 Excepted, includes<\/p>\n

                      \n
                    • The OIT functions will continue to support exempt hospital functions and funded benefits programs and to protect proprietary Government systems.\u00a0 <\/li>\n <\/ul><\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
                  Board (BVA)<\/th>\n

                  1,337 Excepted, includes<\/p>\n

                    \n
                  • 1,336 positions to review and resolve appeals of claims for benefits and services.\u00a0 VA compensation and pension benefits and education benefits are funded with other-than-annual appropriations, and the processing of appeals related to the timely and accurate payment of these entitlement benefits to or on behalf of Veterans and their dependents is necessary by implication.<\/li>\n
                  • 1 position authorized by law, which is the Chairman of the Board of Veterans’ Appeals<\/li>\n <\/ul><\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
                  HRA\/OSP<\/th>\n

                  410 Exempt, includes<\/p>\n

                    \n
                  • 298 positions funded by the Franchise Fund (a revolving fund). Franchise Funded work includes human resources information technology services, training and development programs, law enforcement training, VACO facilities management, and background investigation adjudications.<\/li>\n
                  • 112 positions funded by reimbursable agreements which has an advance appropriation. Reimbursable work, paid from other-than-annual sources, includes alternative dispute resolution, childcare subsidy services, PIV card issuance, and operational HR services.\u00a0 <\/li>\n <\/ul>\n

                    73 Excepted, includes<\/p>\n

                      \n
                    • 1 position authorized by law, which is the Assistant Secretary for HRA\/OSP.<\/li>\n
                    • 2 staff performing activities necessarily implied by law which are the VA Chief Human Capital Officer and the VA Chief Security Officer who are needed to provide advice to exempt and excepted programs in VHA, VBA, NCA, OIT and the Board and to support orderly cessation of Federal activities in the event of a shutdown. <\/li>\n
                    • 70 positions performing activities necessary to protect life and property. This includes law enforcement oversight and investigations; executive protection; VACO facilities management; infrastructure protection; maintenance of the Integrated Operations Center and alternate facilities for continuity of operations; national security communications; and limited executive operational HR services<\/li>\n <\/ul><\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
                  OALC<\/th>\n 1,397 Exempt, includes\n
                    \n
                  • Functions funded by the Supply Fund (a revolving fund) and by the Construction Major Projects appropriation, a multi-year appropriation<\/li>\n <\/ul><\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
                  OGC<\/th>\n

                  176 Exempt, includes<\/p>\n

                    \n
                  • Functions funded by the Reimbursable funds, including <\/li>\n
                      \n
                    • 28 positions supported by the TEF, a multi-year appropriation.<\/li>\n
                    • 78 positions providing legal support for the VA medical collection program. This is funded by reimbursements from advance appropriations to the VHA Medical Support and Compliance account.\u00a0 <\/li>\n
                    • 70 positions providing legal support for the VA procurement program. This is funded by reimbursements from the Supply Fund, a VA revolving fund.\u00a0 <\/li>\n <\/ul>\n <\/ul>\n

                      147 Excepted, includes<\/p>\n

                        \n
                      • 24 staff performing activities necessarily implied by law. These staff would perform orderly shutdown activities; provide legal advice for funded programs where life and property interests are a stake and support to courts.\u00a0 Additionally, supervisors would oversee excepted work functions, triage requests for protection of life & property (e.g., guardianship requests, end-of-life decisions, etc.) and decide whether other employees must be recalled. The Presidentially appointed and Senate Confirmed (PAS) position is vacant and excepted duties will be performed by an acting official.<\/li>\n
                      • 123 total staff performing activities necessary to protect against imminent threats to property interests. These staff would represent the VA before the US Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims (CAVC) if the CAVC remains open but does not grant continuances. These employees would be excepted to protect VA property interests in those cases. <\/li>\n <\/ul><\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
                  OPIA<\/th>\n

                  1 Excepted, includes <\/p>\n

                    \n
                  • 1 position authorized by law, which is the Assistant Secretary for OPIA (a PA position). <\/li>\n <\/ul><\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
                  OCLA<\/th>\n 4 Excepted, includes\n
                    \n
                  • 2 positions authorized by law, which includes the Assistant Secretary for OCLA (a PAS position) and the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for OCLA. <\/li>\n
                  • 5 positions as needed to perform activities necessarily implied by law. <\/li>\n <\/ul><\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
                  OAWP<\/th>\n

                  2 Excepted, includes <\/p>\n

                    \n
                  • 1 position authorized by law, which is the Assistant Secretary for OAWP (a PAS position).<\/li>\n
                  • 1 position performing activities necessarily implied by law to manage intake functions. By receiving allegations and referring them for action to VBA, VHA, NCA and the OIG OAWP is protecting the benefits and health care <\/li>\n <\/ul><\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
                  VEO<\/th>\n 84 Exempt, includes\n
                    \n
                  • Including 45 staff from the Tools & Implementation Team, 3 staff from the Multichannel Technology Team, and 36 staff from the Enterprise Measurement & Design Team funded by reimbursable funding from VHA, which has an advance appropriation. <\/li>\n <\/ul>\n 104 Excepted, includes\n
                      \n
                    • 1 position authorized by law, which is the Chief Veterans Experience Officer. <\/li>\n
                    • 103 staff performing activities necessarily to protect life and property. This includes staff from the Enterprise Contact Center Operations (ECCO) Division, the Office of Client Relations. This staff support the main VA contact center (MyVA411 main information line: 800-698-2411) to prevent disruption to mandatory VA benefit programs and to assist Veteran to receive VHA health care, an exempt function. <\/li>\n <\/ul><\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
                  OEI<\/th>\n 1 Excepted, includes\n
                    \n
                  • 1 position authorized by law, which is the Assistant Secretary for OEI<\/li>\n <\/ul><\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
                  OM<\/th>\n 1,391 Exempt, includes\n
                    \n
                  • Staff at the Debt Management Center and the Financial Services Center and staff managing the VA Franchise Fund. These functions are all funded by the VA Franchise Fund.<\/li>\n <\/ul>\n 8 Excepted, includes\n
                      \n
                    • 1 position authorized by law, which is the Assistant Secretary for Management and Chief Financial Officer.<\/li>\n
                    • 7 staff performing activities necessarily implied by law, which includes providing financial management assistance and support as necessary for exempt funded activities, and to will provide financial advice on orderly cessation of Federal activities in the event of a shutdown.<\/li>\n <\/ul><\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
                  OIG<\/th>\n

                  262 Excepted, includes <\/p>\n

                    \n
                  • 222 staff performing activities necessary to protect life and property. These are agents performing investigative operations across field offices to protect life and property. <\/li>\n
                  • 40 staff performing activities necessarily implied by law, which includes information technology, legal, and other support to excepted staff. <\/li>\n <\/ul><\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
                  EHRM-IO<\/th>\n 250 Exempt, includes\n
                    \n
                  • EHRM is funded by a multi-year appropriation. Sufficient funds remain to support current activities.<\/li>\n <\/ul><\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
                  OSVA<\/th>\n

                  417 Exempt, includes<\/p>\n