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Standard Summary
Comprehensive overview in 1-2 paragraphs
The RESTORE Act would grant back pay to Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) employees who were involuntarily removed and then reinstated or appointed to a VA position during a specific window—between January 20, 2025 and the date of enactment. Eligible employees would receive back pay in accordance with the existing back-pay provisions in title 5 of the United States Code (specifically section 5596). The bill explicitly excludes individuals who were removed from political positions and clarifies what counts as a political position for this purpose. In short, the measure aims to restore compensation lost due to prior removal for certain VA employees who are subsequently reinstated, using the standard federal back-pay framework.
Key Points
- 1Establishes a back-pay entitlement for VA employees who were involuntarily removed and subsequently reinstated or appointed between January 20, 2025 and the enactment date.
- 2Back pay to be calculated and paid under section 5596 of title 5, U.S.C. (the standard federal back-pay framework).
- 3Excludes individuals who were removed from political positions (no back pay for political appointees or similar roles).
- 4Defines “political position” to include: (1) Executive Schedule roles (Sections 5312–5316 of Title 5); (2) noncareer appointees; and (3) confidential or policy-determining positions under Schedule C in the Federal Regulations.
- 5Introduces a specific, time-bounded eligibility window tied to the bill’s introduction and enactment.
Impact Areas
Primary: VA employees who were involuntarily removed and later reinstated or appointed within the eligible window; VA payroll and HR operations.Secondary: Department of Veterans Affairs, Office of Personnel Management (as the broader framework for back pay), and potentially taxpayers/funding sources due to back-pay liabilities.Additional impacts: Administrative processes to identify and process eligible individuals; potential impact on morale and retention within the VA workforce; clarity on who counts as a political position to avoid unintended eligibility.The bill relies on the existing back-pay framework (5 U.S.C. 5596) for calculating and delivering back pay, rather than creating a new calculation method.There is no new funding mechanism specified in the text; the fiscal impact would be determined by the number of eligible employees and the back-pay amounts determined under existing law.
Generated by gpt-5-nano on Nov 18, 2025