VSAFE Act of 2025
The VSAFE Act of 2025 proposes creating a new position within the Department of Veterans Affairs called the Veterans Scam and Fraud Evasion Officer. This officer would be responsible for leading fraud and scam prevention, reporting, and incident-response efforts across the department. Core duties include communicating with VA staff and veterans during fraud incidents, standardizing guidance on recognizing and reporting scams, promoting the Veteran Identity Health Theft Helpline (and other identity‑theft resources), developing fraud-monitoring metrics and data analytics, and coordinating with a wide network of agencies and stakeholders to align federal fraud-prevention efforts. The bill also emphasizes training for staff handling fraud inquiries and requires collaboration with the Inspector General and other federal agencies, as well as veterans service organizations and state/local/tribal governments. Importantly, the bill does not authorize an increase in VA full-time employees. In addition, the bill makes a clerical amendment to add the new 325 section to the VA code, and it adjusts a VA home loan fee date (extending the date from June 9, 2034 to June 23, 2034).
Key Points
- 1Establishment of the Veterans Scam and Fraud Evasion Officer in the Department of Veterans Affairs, tasked with fraud prevention, reporting, and incident response planning.
- 2Responsibilities include: (a) clear, comprehensive communication during fraud incidents; (b) issuing consistent guidance for employees and veterans/families on identifying, reporting, and avoiding fraud; (c) promoting the Veteran Identity Health Theft Helpline and other identity-theft resources; (d) developing fraud-monitoring metrics and analytics; (e) creating training plans for staff handling fraud inquiries; (f) coordinating with IG and multiple federal agencies to create a whole‑of‑government view and identify reporting avenues and opportunities for coordination; (g) consulting with veterans service organizations and State/local/tribal governments.
- 3Limit on staffing: The act does not authorize an increase in the Department’s number of full-time employees.
- 4Rule of construction: The establishment of this officer does not alter the Inspector General’s existing authority.
- 5Clerical amendment: Adds new Sec. 325, Veterans Scam and Fraud Evasion Officer, to the VA code.
- 6Section 3 modification: Alters the VA home loan fee table by changing the date from June 9, 2034 to June 23, 2034, effectively extending the specified date related to loan fees.