Deputy Secretary of Veterans Affairs

Deputy Secretary of Veterans Affairs
Post	Deputy Secretary of Veterans Affairs
Body	United States Department of Veterans Affairs
Reports to	Secretary of Veterans Affairs
Seat	Washington, D.C.
Appointer	President of the United States
Constituting instrument	United States Constitution
Formation	1989

Deputy Secretary of Veterans Affairs The Deputy Secretary of Veterans Affairs is the second-highest official in the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, serving as the principal assistant to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs and acting head in the Secretary's absence. The office interfaces with federal and legislative entities such as the United States Congress, the White House, the Government Accountability Office, the Office of Management and Budget, and the Veterans Health Administration to implement policy, oversee operations, and manage resources across national programs serving veterans and beneficiaries.

Role and Responsibilities

The Deputy Secretary oversees operational execution across the Veterans Health Administration, the Veterans Benefits Administration, and the National Cemetery Administration, coordinates with the Department of Defense on transition and benefits issues, and liaises with congressional actors including the Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs and the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs. The Deputy Secretary manages interactions with stakeholder organizations such as the American Legion, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the Disabled American Veterans, and the Paralyzed Veterans of America while directing internal offices including the Office of Inspector General (United States Department of Veterans Affairs), the Office of General Counsel (United States Department of Veterans Affairs), and the Federal Emergency Management Agency for disaster response planning. Responsibilities include budget execution with the Congressional Budget Office, personnel oversight involving the Office of Personnel Management, and policy coordination with the Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Labor on veteran health, benefits, and employment programs.

Appointment and Confirmation

The Deputy Secretary is nominated by the President of the United States and requires confirmation by the United States Senate, typically following hearings before the Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Nominees often have prior service in administrations such as the Clinton administration, the George W. Bush administration, the Obama administration, or the Trump administration, and may hold backgrounds involving the United States Marine Corps, the United States Army, the United States Navy, private sector firms like Lockheed Martin or Booz Allen Hamilton, or advocacy groups including Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America. Confirmation processes consult standards from the Office of Government Ethics and the Senate Armed Services Committee when national security or procurement experience is relevant.

Organizational Structure and Duties

Reporting lines place the Deputy Secretary above undersecretaries and assistant secretaries such as the Under Secretary of Veterans Affairs for Health, the Under Secretary of Veterans Affairs for Benefits, and the Under Secretary of Veterans Affairs for Memorial Affairs. The Deputy Secretary supervises program offices including the Veterans Health Administration, large regional networks, and national cemeteries like Arlington National Cemetery while coordinating with federal partners such as the Department of Transportation for accessibility and the Department of Housing and Urban Development for veterans' homelessness initiatives. Operational duties include oversight of information systems like the Veterans Health Information Systems and Technology Architecture and contracting practices governed by the Federal Acquisition Regulation and liaison with the Small Business Administration for veteran-owned small business programs.

History and Notable Officeholders

The position was created as part of departmental organization when the Department of Veterans Affairs evolved from the Veterans Administration and formalized during reorganizations in the late 20th century, intersecting with legislative milestones such as the Veterans' Benefits Improvement Act and the Gulf War Veterans' Illnesses research. Notable holders have included senior executives and veterans with ties to administrations from Ronald Reagan to Joe Biden, and figures who moved between the VA and entities like the Department of Defense or veterans groups including the Vietnam Veterans of America. Officeholders have engaged with events such as the Iraq War, the War in Afghanistan (2001–2021), and crises like the COVID-19 pandemic in coordinating health and benefits responses.

Salary and Succession

Compensation for the Deputy Secretary aligns with the Executive Schedule pay rates used across Cabinet-level positions, consistent with statutes governing federal executive pay. Succession protocols are established by departmental order and federal succession law, placing the Deputy Secretary immediately after the Secretary of Veterans Affairs and before undersecretaries in the event of vacancy or incapacity, with interactions governed by the Presidential Succession Act and guidance from the Department of Justice on continuity of operations.

Office and Staff

The Deputy Secretary maintains an office in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building or the VA headquarters complex in Washington, D.C., supported by a senior staff including chiefs of staff, policy directors, and liaisons to agencies such as the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, and the National Institutes of Health. Staff coordination extends to regional directors, medical center directors affiliated with institutions like the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, and partnerships with academic centers including the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences and veteran-serving research at universities like Columbia University and University of Michigan.

Policy Impact and Major Initiatives

Deputy Secretaries have driven implementation of initiatives including electronic health record modernization in partnership with Cerner Corporation and federal modernization efforts, expansion of mental health and suicide prevention programs tied to Department of Veterans Affairs policies, benefits delivery reforms influenced by legislation such as the Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act, and homelessness reduction strategies coordinated with the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness. Programmatic decisions involve collaboration with accrediting and oversight entities like the Joint Commission and the Office of Special Counsel (United States) to address quality, ethics, and accountability across VA operations.

Category:United States Department of Veterans Affairs