Overview

• The VA Office of Inspector General’s annual report logged 4,434 severe occupational shortages, a 50% rise from last year, with every one of the 139 VHA facilities reporting at least one gap.
• Medical officer roles were flagged as shortages by 94% of facilities, followed by nurses at 79%, psychologists at 57%, police officers at 58% and custodial staff.
• VA press secretary Pete Kasperowicz called the survey subjective and not a reliable indicator of vacancies, pointing instead to 14% and 10% department-wide vacancy rates for doctors and nurses.
• The OIG noted its data predates a wave of voluntary buyouts and the Deferred Resignation Program, warning that staffing pressures may now be even more severe.
• Senators Richard Blumenthal, Mark Warner and Representative Mark Takano warned that rising shortages risk veterans’ access to care and urged VA leaders to use the findings to guide hiring and retention strategies.