I 
119TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 2722 
To limit the deferral or transfer of Federal funds made available to the 
Department of Veterans Affairs, to limit layoffs and other personnel 
actions at the Department, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
APRIL 8, 2025 
Mr. KENNEDY of New York (for himself, Ms. NORTON, Mr. THANEDAR, Mrs. 
DINGELL, Ms. TLAIB, Mr. LANDSMAN, Ms. OCASIO-CORTEZ, Mrs. RAMI-
REZ, Mr. NEGUSE, Mr. DAVIS of Illinois, Mr. MANNION, Ms. VELA´ZQUEZ, 
Ms. WILLIAMS of Georgia, Mrs. MCIVER, Ms. BUDZINSKI, Mr. RUIZ, Ms. 
SEWELL, and Ms. CROCKETT) introduced the following bill; which was re-
ferred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs 
A BILL 
To limit the deferral or transfer of Federal funds made 
available to the Department of Veterans Affairs, to limit 
layoffs and other personnel actions at the Department, 
and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘VA Funding and 
Workforce Protection Act’’. 
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SEC. 2. LIMITATION ON DEFERRAL OR TRANSFER OF FED-
ERAL FUNDS MADE AVAILABLE FOR DEPART-
MENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Notwithstanding any other provi-
sion of law, including the Impoundment Control Act of 
1974, discretionary appropriations made available for the 
Department of Veterans Affairs (in this Act referred to 
as the ‘‘Department’’), including the Veterans Health Ad-
ministration, may not be impounded, transferred, or re-
programmed unless specific statutory authority is enacted 
into law after the date of the enactment of this Act, with 
express reference to this Act, permitting such impound-
ment, transfer, or reprogramming. 
(b) NOTIFICATION.—The Secretary of the Depart-
ment of Veterans Affairs (in this Act referred to as the 
‘‘Secretary’’) shall notify the Committees on Veterans’ Af-
fairs of the House of Representatives and the Senate if 
the Secretary determines that the Department is within 
30 days of having a shortfall of funding. 
SEC. 3. PERSONNEL REQUIREMENTS FOR DEPARTMENT OF 
VETERANS AFFAIRS. 
(a) EXEMPTION FROM HIRING FREEZE.—The De-
partment shall be exempt from any hiring freeze issued 
by the President, the Secretary, or the Director of the Of-
fice of Personnel Management during the period beginning 
on January 20, 2025, and ending on January 20, 2029. 
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(b) REINSTATEMENT OF VETERANS.—With respect 
to any veteran (as that term is defined in section 101 of 
title 38, United States Code) who was a career employee 
of the Department and whom the Secretary removed from 
employment with the Department during the period begin-
ning on January 20, 2025, and ending on the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall— 
(1) reinstate such veteran to the position (or 
equivalent position) such veteran occupied on the 
date that is one day before the date of removal; and 
(2) exempt such veteran from separation under 
any reduction in force that occurs before January 
20, 2029. 
(c) LIMITATION ON LAYOFFS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall submit 
written notice, to the Committees on Veterans’ Af-
fairs of the House of Representatives and the Sen-
ate, not later than 15 days before the date that the 
Department will remove any officer or employee 
under a reduction in force or an agency reorganiza-
tion. 
(2) PROBATIONARY EMPLOYEES.— 
(A) IN
GENERAL.—Notwithstanding any 
other provision of law, no employee of the De-
partment in probationary status may be re-
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moved from a position at the Department with-
out the enactment into law after the date of the 
enactment of this section, with express ref-
erence to this section, permitting such removal. 
(B) NOTIFICATION.—The Secretary shall 
submit to Congress— 
(i) on the date the Secretary removes 
a probationary employee for poor perform-
ance, a report that includes the reasons for 
the removal, the employee’s most recent 
performance appraisal, and the removal 
notice submitted to the employee; and 
(ii) not later than 30 days after the 
date of the enactment of this Act and 
every 30 days thereafter, a list of any pro-
bationary employees at the Department 
that received a removal notice during the 
period covered by the report. 
SEC. 4. CERTIFICATION OF COMPLIANCE. 
Not later than 30 days after the date of the enact-
ment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the Secretary 
shall certify (in writing), to the Committees on Appropria-
tions of the House of Representatives and the Senate and 
the Committees on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Rep-
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resentatives and the Senate, that the Secretary is in com-
pliance with the requirements of this Act. 
Æ 
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