Department of Veterans Affairs
Freedom of Information Act Services (005R1C)
811 Vermont Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20420

Subject: Freedom of Information Act Request – VA Personnel Changes and Office Impact Data

Dear Sir/Madam,

This is a request under the Freedom of Information Act (5 U.S.C. § 552). Veterans Education Success requests copies of the following records in the possession of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), including but not limited to communications to, from, and/or with Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) staff, Veterans Health Administration (VHA) staff, and National Cemetery Administration (NCA) staff. Specifically, we seek access to records related to personnel reductions, terminations, reassignments, or restructuring within VA from January 20, 2025, to the present.

    1. Personnel Reduction Data
      1. The total number of Department of Veterans Affairs employees affected by personnel reductions (including but not limited to deferred resignations, layoffs of probationary employees, reductions in force (RIF), other terminations/layoffs).
      2. Breakdown of such affected employees by job title, office location, service area (e.g., healthcare, benefits administration, cemetery services), and sub-service area (e.g., Education Services, Home Loan, Vocational Rehabilitation), personnel reduction type (e.g., deferred resignation, probationary, RIFF, other) and percentage of employees in that service area affected by personnel reductions.
      3. Records or data showing the proportion of such affected employees who are veterans and who are disabled veterans (eligible for veterans preference) broken out by personnel reduction type.
    2. Office and Programmatic Impact
      1. A list of VA offices, facilities, or departments where personnel reductions have occurred or are planned.
      2. Any internal assessments, memos, or reports analyzing the impact of personnel reductions on services provided to veterans.
      3. Any internal guidance, directives, or communications regarding changes in workforce levels and their anticipated effects on operations.
    3.  Reorganization and Staffing Plans
      1. Any official VA plans, communications, or directives related to restructuring, office closures, or program consolidations as a result of the workforce reduction.
      2. Correspondence between VA leadership and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), executive office of the President, or other federal agencies concerning workforce changes.
    4. Return to Office Impacts
      1. The total number of Department of Veterans Affairs employees affected by the recent “Return to In-Person Work” presidential action broken down by the following:
        • Fully remote workers now being required to work in person,
        • Non-remote workers whose telework agreements were reduced in the number of eligible telework days,
        • Non-remote workers whose telework agreements were switched to only situational telework or
        • Non-remote workers whose telework agreements were cancelled/ended altogether.
      2. Breakdown of such affected employees by job title, office location, and service area (e.g., healthcare, benefits administration, cemetery services), and sub-service area (e.g., Education Services, Home Loan, Vocational Rehabilitation).
      3. The total number of relocation incentives requested by and/or approved for VA employees over the last ten years broken out by year. The total cost of those relocation incentives over the last ten years broken out by year.

To facilitate processing, we request that the records be provided in electronic format, if available. If this request is overly broad or burdensome, we are willing to discuss ways to narrow its scope to ensure access to relevant records while minimizing processing time. We are also willing to accept production of these records on a rolling basis.

We request a waiver of all fees for this request, as disclosure is in the public interest and will significantly contribute to public understanding of government activities. Veterans Education Success is a nonprofit organization dedicated to advocating for veterans and their families, and this request is not primarily for commercial purposes.

Additionally, I seek expedited processing, as Veterans Education Success is engaged in disseminating information to the public, and the requested information is necessary to inform both the public and policymakers before any official reports are widely distributed.

If a fee waiver is not granted and costs exceed $25, please notify me immediately. Please confirm receipt of this request and provide an estimated timeline for its fulfillment. If any portions of the requested records are exempt from disclosure, I request that non-exempt portions be released and that I be provided with an index of any withheld documents, as required by Vaughn v. Rosen (484 F.2d 820 [D.C. Cir. 1973]).

If you have any questions or require clarification, please contact me by email at patrick@vetsedsuccess.org. Thank you for your time and consideration.

Respectfully,

Patrick Campbell
Veterans Education Success
patrick@vetsedsuccess.org
202-285-1257

FOIA Request - VA, April 9, 2025