VISN Reform Act of 2025

Summary#

This bill would change how the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) organizes and runs its regional Veterans Integrated Service Networks (VISNs). It would add a new legal section that requires the Secretary to set up eight geographic VISNs, run each as a regional integrated health care system, and use national metrics and regional budgets. The bill requires the Secretary to reduce duplicated functions across VISNs, work with other VA offices and local partners, and review VISN structure at least once every three years. Each VISN would have a single headquarters colocated with a VA medical center, limited to 50 full-time employees (no more than 10 contractors) unless a temporary waiver is granted. The bill would make each VISN Director a presidentially appointed, Senate-confirmed, noncareer position. It also requires annual reports about VISN headquarters staffing and a plan, due within 180 days, to right-size VISN headquarters to meet staff limits. Separately, the bill directs the Secretary to combine the current VISNs into eight geographically defined networks within one year, listing which existing VISNs are combined or remain separate.

What it means for you#

• The VHA would be reorganized into eight regional VISNs. Specific VISNs are grouped together in the bill and must be combined within one year.
• Each VISN would have only one headquarters office, and that office must be located with a VA medical center.
• Headquarters offices would be limited to 50 full-time staff (up to 10 contractors), with plans to reach that level within three years unless a short waiver is approved.
• VISN Directors would be appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate. They would be noncareer appointees and responsible for enforcing VA policies in their regions.
• VA employees in a VISN would report to the VISN Director. Clinicians licensed to practice in a hospital must work at least one day per week in a VA medical center in the VISN and meet with service chiefs as directed.
• The Secretary must submit reports to the House and Senate Veterans' Affairs Committees about staffing and must prepare a plan to reorganize and right-size VISN headquarters.

Expenses#

No publicly available information on estimated total costs or savings from this bill. The bill requires each VISN to have a regional budget that is balanced at the end of each fiscal year. The required right-sizing plan may describe voluntary separation incentive payments or retraining under title 5, but the bill does not include cost estimates.

Proponents' View#

No publicly available information.

Opponents' View#

No publicly available information.