The Department of Veterans Affairs released its 2024 Agency Equity Action Plan to help ensure that VA delivers on its promise to provide world-class care and benefits to all Veterans, their families, caregivers, and survivors – regardless of their age, race, ethnicity, sex, gender identity, religion, disability, sexual orientation, or geographic location.
In fiscal year (FY) 2024, VA will make progress through executing five strategies that will address systemic barriers experienced when applying for disability compensation; address difficulties achieving equitable health care outcomes; and providing equitable access to VA care and benefits. VA will create and expand opportunities in procurement that will target underrepresented communities and contribute to economic improvements. VA will continue its efforts in Veteran-centered data collection and evidence-based decision-making to inform and improve the overall health, well-being and trust of those we serve.
These strategies complement and are aligned with the VA FY 2022-2028 Strategic Plan (PDF 235 pages) and will integrate other equity-related executive orders (EO). These strategies are as follows:
Strategy 1: Benefits
Improve benefit outcomes for all Veterans by removing barriers that eligible Veterans, including underserved Veterans experience, when seeking disability compensation.
Strategy 2: Health
Advance health equity by reducing health disparities, ensuring access to high-quality care for every eligible Veteran, and using equity-informed approaches to better reach Veterans, including underserved Veterans.
Strategy 3: Access
Enhance access and use of VA benefits and care by streamlining processes and increasing availability of tools, resources and facilities.
Strategy 4: Economic Security
Advance economic security by ensuring procurement practices reach underserved communities via increasing opportunities for Small Disadvantaged Businesses (SDB), Women Owned Small Businesses (WOSB) and Historically Underutilized Business Zones (HUBZone).
Strategy 5: Data
Increase evidence-based decision-making by improving the collection, quality and accessibility of demographic and related data to ensure equity in the delivery of care and benefits to Veterans, their families, caregivers and survivors.
EXECUTIVE ORDERS
- Executive Order on Further Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through The Federal Government
- Executive Order On Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through the FederalGovernment
WHITE HOUSE FACTSHEETS
- President Biden Signs Executive Order to Strengthen Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Across the Federal Government
- President Biden’s FY 2024 Budget Advances Equity
GOVERNMENT EQUITY MICRO SITES
VA Equity Plans
VA Equity Reports
VA Equity News
- 2024 VA Equity Action Plan Launch Event
- VA’s National Cemetery Administration dedicates new headstones to honor Black soldiers, correcting 1917 injustice
- VA announces 2024 Equity Action Plan, new actions to ensure that all Veterans receive the health care and benefits they earned
- National Congress of American Indians
- After VA waives copays, American Indian and Alaska Native Veterans save $2.5 million in health care costs
- VA expands breast cancer screenings and mammograms for Veterans with potential toxic exposures
- VA and NAACP announce partnership to improve quality of life for Black and minority Veterans
- VA stands up Agency Equity Team
- VA waives copayments for eligible Native American and Alaska Native Veterans
- New VA Mission Statement recognizes sacred commitment to all Veterans, their families, caregivers and survivors
- VA closes gap in benefits for LGBTQ+ Veterans and their survivors
