Board of Veterans Appeals (Attorney Advisor)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Anyone know of someone who was denied DRP?

According to Reddit, tons of VA has been denied. Even many of non-exempt positions that have applied.

The VA subReddit is mostly VHA and VBA folks with no specific talk of BVA. I think the question is regarding BVA people. Anyone know of someone at the BVA that was denied DRP? Knowing whether people were denied would be a good gauge of how many people "leadership" is looking to get rid of at BVA.

I don't know anyone who was denied. We received an email this week about five or six long term attorneys who are retiring as of June 1. I assume they all took DRP.

That was my guess on the retirements, too. They either took DRP+VERA or DRP+regular retirement.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Anyone know of someone who was denied DRP?

According to Reddit, tons of VA has been denied. Even many of non-exempt positions that have applied.

The VA subReddit is mostly VHA and VBA folks with no specific talk of BVA. I think the question is regarding BVA people. Anyone know of someone at the BVA that was denied DRP? Knowing whether people were denied would be a good gauge of how many people "leadership" is looking to get rid of at BVA.

I don't know anyone who was denied. We received an email this week about five or six long term attorneys who are retiring as of June 1. I assume they all took DRP.

That was my guess on the retirements, too. They either took DRP+VERA or DRP+regular retirement.

I am familiar with three attorneys who took it. All approved.

[Anonymous]

Proposed Whitehouse budget at: https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BUDGET-2026-APP/pdf/BUDGET-2026-APP.pdf

BVA-specific section begins at page 909.

Total personnel compensation was $190 mil in 2024, $200 mil (estimated) in 2025, $190 mil (proposed/estimated) for 2026.

FTEs were 1368 in 2024, 1405 in 2025, and 1320 for 2026.

Rental payments were $9 mil 2024, $8 mil 2025, and $7 mil for 2026.

Seems like pretty modest cuts to personnel, no new leases for space expected for 2026. Any other thoughts?

[Anonymous]

DOGE doesn't care about a proposed budget even if it comes from the WH. They will probably even call it waste.

[Anonymous]

Thoughts? Sure. How fast can four years end?

[Anonymous]

I'm not sure how much the white house and the people deciding the RIFs are talking to each other. But I suppose this proposed budget is more to go on than random reddit rumors.

The budget seems okay all things considered - if they are proposing only losing 85 people, that could be just the people who took DRP/VERA or otherwise left for a new job.

As for the plan to spend a million less in rent next year, I'm not sure how to take it. How exactly would they spend less on rent? Surely the rent at Eye St is locked in for next year? Maybe they negotiated something. But I suppose no big increase in rent means they aren't planning to get more office space, so hopefully that means they'll just leave it status quo ante as far as remote/telework.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm not sure how much the white house and the people deciding the RIFs are talking to each other. But I suppose this proposed budget is more to go on than random reddit rumors.

The budget seems okay all things considered - if they are proposing only losing 85 people, that could be just the people who took DRP/VERA or otherwise left for a new job.

As for the plan to spend a million less in rent next year, I'm not sure how to take it. How exactly would they spend less on rent? Surely the rent at Eye St is locked in for next year? Maybe they negotiated something. But I suppose no big increase in rent means they aren't planning to get more office space, so hopefully that means they'll just leave it status quo ante as far as remote/telework.

It's a million less in rent because they gave up two floors since 2024. The rent went down when they gave up that space because it is being leased to someone else.

[Anonymous]

Does anybody remember seeing something potentially positive regarding remote work as it relates to the BVA and Project 2025 (read as: there was some sort of recognition that the BVA's quota/tracking has increased in total decision since working remotely for years before COVID)? I remember seeing something more formal like that months ago, but just looked at the P25 Manifesto and don't see it in there. Am I misremembering, or looking in the wrong place?

[Anonymous]

Positive words for government work? Doesn't sound like the Project 2025 I know and love.

Maybe you're thinking of the February 2025 letter from congressional democrats to Doug Collins? https://afgelocal17.org/advocacy-in-action-preserve-telework/#letter-to-the-secretary-of-veterans-affairs

[Anonymous]

Who's on first? I mean this is just ridiculous.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Who's on first? I mean this is just ridiculous.

???