Secretary’s Priorities

Whether writing your resume or prepping for your interview, we’ve got tips to help you on every step of your journey to a career at VA.

Between Dec. 10-17, VA hosted more than 120 PACT Act Week of Action events across all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico to inform Veterans, their families and survivors about the PACT Act and to encourage them to apply for the health care and benefits they have earned.

On Friday, Dec. 16, 2022, VA Secretary Denis McDonough spoke at the PACT Act Week of Action at the Maj. Joseph R. “Beau” Biden III National Guard/Reserve Center. The following are his remarks from the event.

VA is closing a gap in survivor benefits for certain survivors of LGBTQ+ Veterans—specifically, for those who were unable to wed until the 2015 Obergefell v. Hodges Supreme Court decision.

VA’s latest National Veteran Suicide Prevention Annual Report shows encouraging downward trends in Veteran suicide counts and rates, yet ongoing critical work remains.

In February 2022, VA requested non-citizen service member data from DoD so that it could host naturalization outreach via VA's Solid Start.

VA is seeking candidates for the Veterans and Community Oversight and Engagement Board. What is this and why is it important?

VA is seeking a diverse background and expertise of nominees for the Veterans’ Rural Health Advisory Committee.

The Advisory Committee on Former Prisoners of War, which advises the VA secretary on FPOWs, is seeking nominees for the committee.

The Immigrant Military Members and Veterans Initiative (IMMVI) launched in July 2021 when VA partnered with the Department of Homeland Security to consolidate relevant federal resources for noncitizen service members, Veterans and their families, caregivers and survivors.

Getting vaccinated against COVID-19 is the best way to protect others and health care workers from hospitalization and death, VA Secretary Denis McDonough said Jan. 19 at a Blue Star Families online forum.

The following letter from VA Secretary Denis McDonough is VA’s annual distribution about anti-harassment and sexual assault.