Veterans Employment Program Lacks Key Elements for Success

A recent report from the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) has identified significant areas for improvement within the Department of Veterans Affairs’ (VA) Veteran Employment Through Technology Education Courses (VET TEC) program. The VET TEC program, designed to equip veterans with skills for high-tech careers, has seen over 20,300 enrollments since its pilot phase began in April 2019, with the VA reporting expenditures of nearly $262 million as of December 2024. However, the GAO’s findings indicate that the program’s pilot design did not fully adhere to established best practices.

According to the GAO’s assessment, the VA acknowledged a shortage of staff as a contributing factor to the program’s shortcomings in fully implementing these best practices. While the agency initially believed it possessed adequate personnel to achieve the pilot’s objectives, it failed to conduct continuous evaluations of its human capital needs. With the VET TEC program authorized to continue until 2027, a thorough assessment of staffing requirements is crucial to ensure the program is adequately resourced for effective implementation. This lack of foresight could impact the program’s ability to deliver on its promise of preparing veterans for the modern workforce.

The VA’s oversight of training providers involved an application evaluation process where 165 out of 221 applications were denied, five facilities were suspended, and two on-site reviews were conducted. An instance of potential provider fraud was also referred to the VA’s Office of Inspector General. Despite these measures, GAO’s analysis of VA data revealed approximately $4 million in potential overpayments to training providers, constituting about 2 percent of total payments. VA officials explained that such overpayments could occur when providers submit revised information after an initial payment, particularly if a veteran discontinues training. The absence of explicit written procedures for the pilot program to detect these specific types of overpayments weakens the VA’s internal controls for the VET TEC payment process, potentially leading to continued financial discrepancies.

Veterans participating in the VET TEC program have reported a range of difficulties concerning training providers, including issues with recruitment, the quality of education received, and the effectiveness of career placement services. A significant concern highlighted by the GAO is that the VA has not been systematically collecting or analyzing ongoing feedback from these participants through the GI Bill School Feedback Tool, which is the agency’s primary mechanism for gathering such input. By failing to leverage this existing tool, the VA is missing a critical opportunity to gain valuable insights that could inform and improve the VET TEC program’s implementation and overall effectiveness. The lack of structured feedback collection means that potential systemic issues experienced by veterans may not be identified or addressed in a timely manner.

The GAO has issued four recommendations to the VA aimed at enhancing the VET TEC program. These include developing a plan to assess current and future human capital needs for the program, establishing a systematic process to prevent, identify, and recoup overpayments to training providers, and clearly communicating to participants that the GI Bill School Feedback Tool can be used for VET TEC program feedback. The agency is also advised to develop and implement a plan to analyze ongoing participant feedback to inform program implementation. The VA has agreed with three of these recommendations and indicated that it is open to addressing the fourth. The report emphasizes that these actions are vital for ensuring the VET TEC program effectively serves veterans transitioning into high-tech fields.

Article by Mel Anara, based upon information from the U.S. Government Accountability Office.

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