National Veterans Advocate Act of 2025
The National Veterans Advocate Act of 2025 would create a new, independent Office of the National Veterans’ Advocate within the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). The Advocate would lead an Office that is (on paper) independent from VA health leadership and is designed to monitor VA processes, identify problems veterans face, and push for both administrative changes and legislative fixes to improve health care and other benefits for veterans. The office would operate with its own staff, run a public casework portal, conduct outreach to veterans, and publish independent biannual reports with recommendations. It would also establish deputy advocates in VA regional networks to ensure casework coverage, and would be funded at $25 million per year from 2026 through 2030. A key feature is shifting the role from a “patient advocate” to a “veteran advocate,” with the office empowered to manage cross-department casework, propose improvements, and work with Congress and VA leadership to improve efficiency and veteran outcomes. The bill emphasizes transparency (public reports and a public website) and non-review of recommendations by VA leadership before submission to Congress.
Key Points
- 1Establishment of the Office of the National Veterans’ Advocate as an independent office within VA, led by the National Veterans’ Advocate, who reports to the Secretary and is compensated at the Senior Executive Service level. The office is intended to be independent of the health secretary’s line management, though the wording also says the Advocate reports to the Secretary.
- 2Expanded functions to monitor VA processes, identify veteran problems in dealings with the Department, propose administrative changes to reduce problems, and identify potential legislative changes to address issues.
- 3Cross-department casework management and a new casework flow: the office will manage casework issues across VA, create a casework request portal (so veterans can request help), and ensure rapid assignment of a local caseworker when needed.
- 4Staffing and geographic coverage: creation of Deputy National Veterans’ Advocates in each Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN) to oversee day-to-day casework and ensure staffing levels—at least one veteran advocate for every 12,000 enrolled veterans in the area.
- 5Reporting and transparency: twice-yearly (March 30 and September 30) independent reports to Senate and House Veterans’ Affairs Committees with activities and independent recommendations on health outcomes, care quality, and cost efficiency; recommendations cannot be reviewed by the VA Secretary or other officials before submission; reports must be published publicly on the Advocate’s website.
- 6Training, outreach, and coordination: the Advocate’s office will design and enforce a standardized training curriculum for veteran advocates, coordinate with VA leadership and veterans service organizations, and conduct outreach to inform veterans about the office and its services.
- 7Funding: authorization of $25 million per year for 2026–2030 to operate the office and its programs.