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“Protecting Those Who Served: A Review of VA Police Operations”

Senate Veterans Affairs Committee Hearing

May 13, 2026 (recording here)

HEARING INFORMATION

Witnesses & Written Testimony (linked):

• Reginald G.A. Neal, Ed.D: Assistant Secretary for Operations, Security, and Preparedness, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

• Mark Engelbaum: Assistant Secretary for Human Resources and Administration, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

• Patrick L. Hernandez: Director of Security and Law Enforcement, Office of Operations, Security, and Preparedness, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

• Chad Allan: Chief of Police, Robert J. Dole VA Medical Center, Wichita, Kansas, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

• Triana McNeil: Director, Homeland Security and Justice Team, U.S. Government Accountability Office

• Matthew Leffle: Vice President of AFGE Local 1699, American Federation of Government Employees, AFL-CIO

TOP-LINES TO SHOW YOU ARE IN THE KNOW

1. Senators from both parties raised concerns that VA police staffing shortages and proposed pay downgrades were hurting recruitment, retention, and morale across the department.

2. Witnesses testified that VA police officers play a unique role because many are veterans themselves and regularly respond to veterans experiencing mental health crises.

3. The GAO revealed that investigators were able to carry prohibited weapons into every VA facility they tested, raising serious concerns about physical security gaps.

4. VA leadership said the department was overhauling its police structure, training standards, and career pathways to improve accountability and strengthen the force nationwide.

5. Members repeatedly stressed that community-based outpatient clinics and emergency care settings need stronger security support, especially in rural areas without on-site VA police officers.

PARTY LINE PERSPECTIVES

OPENING STATEMENTS FROM THE COMMITTEE

• Chairman Jerry Moran opened the hearing by recognizing National Police Week and the importance of VA police officers in protecting veterans, staff, and visitors at VA facilities nationwide. He noted that nearly 90% of VA police officers were veterans themselves and highlighted improvements in crisis intervention training compliance, which had risen from 28% to 96.8% following congressional oversight. The Chairman expressed support for the VA’s planned police command restructuring and raised concerns about proposed pay downgrades and staffing shortages that could worsen recruitment and retention issues. He also referenced a new GAO report on VA campus security and said that its findings required attention from VA leadership.

• Ranking Member Richard Blumenthal stated that VA police departments played a critical role in maintaining safety and security at VA facilities. He argued that recruitment, retention, and morale among VA police officers had been severely harmed by staffing reductions, proposed position downgrades, and broader workforce policies, mentioning that nearly 300 officers had been lost in fiscal year 2025. The Ranking Member criticized vacancy reductions that eliminated hundreds of police positions and announced plans to introduce the VA Police Recruitment and Retention Act of 2026 to prevent future downgrades and pay cuts.

SUMMARY OF KEY POINTS

• Dr. Reginald Neal testified that the administration inherited a fragmented and dysfunctional VA police force that suffered from inconsistent standards, poor organizational structure, and limited career advancement opportunities. He explained that VA police officers had often reported to medical center personnel instead of law enforcement professionals and were sometimes assigned non-police duties. Dr. Neal reported that the VA had begun consolidating police operations under the Office of Operations, Security, and Preparedness to improve oversight, accountability, training, and professional development. He also said the VA was working with the Office of Personnel Management to modernize outdated position classifications and ensure that VA police officers received appropriate compensation without implementing previously proposed downgrades.

• Mr. Matthew Leffle, on behalf of AFGE, asserted that severe staffing shortages had left VA police departments understaffed and unable to fully protect veterans, staff, and facilities. He opposed proposed position downgrades and supported legislation that would prohibit pay reductions for VA police officers, arguing that such cuts would worsen recruitment and retention problems. Mr. Leffle also advocated for granting VA police officers full federal law enforcement retirement benefits and highlighted the specialized crisis intervention training that distinguished VA police officers from other law enforcement personnel. He recommended that Congress establish dedicated funding for VA police positions so medical center directors would not have to choose between hiring police officers and healthcare staff.

• Ms. Triana McNeil shared that the GAO’s review examined criminal activity, security implementation, and capital planning at VA medical facilities. She claimed that VA police officers served a unique role by balancing security responsibilities with maintaining a welcoming environment for veterans seeking care. Ms. McNeil reported that GAO covert testing uncovered serious vulnerabilities, including the ability to carry prohibited weapons into all 30 facilities tested and openly consume alcohol in many waiting rooms without intervention. She concluded that these findings indicated potential systemwide security failures and raised questions about staffing, oversight, training, resources, and VA leadership’s response to thousands of unresolved security recommendations.

• Chairman Moran asked about security oversight at community-based outpatient clinics following the fatal shooting at the Jasper, Georgia, clinic. Mr. Patrick Hernandez explained that the facility had met federal security standards for a Level Two facility and had employed security measures, including panic buttons, restricted clinical access, and coordination with local law enforcement.

• The Chairman then inquired about security coverage at Kansas CBOCs, and Chief Chad Allan replied that local police departments responded through memorandums of understanding because VA police officers were not stationed at those facilities. Mr. Leffle added that having VA police officers physically present at CBOCs would better support veterans in crisis and improve overall safety.

• Sen. Angus King raised concerns about police vacancies at the Togus VA Medical Center in Maine, pointing out that seven positions had been cut while the VA reviewed police classification standards. Mr. Mark Engelbaum responded that the VA had not directed facilities to eliminate specific police positions and explained that the department was conducting a systemwide review to establish consistent manpower standards for every VA facility. Sen. King also noted that VA police salaries were not competitive with local law enforcement agencies in Maine and argued that the VA needed to offer more competitive compensation to recruit and retain qualified officers.

• Sen. Tim Sheehy discussed the unique challenges faced by veterans in crisis and asked how the VA considered security risks within the Community Care Network. Dr. Neal responded that VA police officers played a critical role in setting the tone for veterans’ care experiences and often served as the first and last point of contact during visits. Chief Allan further explained that the VA used disruptive behavior committees to track concerning incidents involving veterans and determine whether additional safeguards or alternative care arrangements were needed. Sen. Sheehy suggested that community care providers should receive appropriate warnings when veterans with histories of violent behavior are referred to outside facilities.

• Sen. Mazie Hirono questioned Dr. Neal and Mr. Engelbaum about high vacancy rates and police staffing reductions at the VA Pacific Islands Health Care System in Hawaii. Dr. Neal acknowledged the staffing challenges and said that the VA was working to establish balanced staffing standards through direct engagement with facilities. Mr. Engelbaum claimed that the department was conducting a comprehensive manpower review for all VA police units and had already approved additional police authorizations in certain locations.

• Sen. Hirono also asked whether facilities would have opportunities to provide input during the staffing review process. Mr. Hernandez confirmed that field assessments and interviews were being conducted at all police service units nationwide.

• Chairman Moran questioned the witnesses about police qualification standards, training consistency, and the department’s response to GAO recommendations. Mr. Hernandez testified that the VA had standardized police position descriptions nationwide and described new training enhancements, including expanded crisis intervention and de-escalation instruction at the VA Law Enforcement Training Center in Arkansas. Ms. McNeil stated that GAO had not yet seen evidence that its recommendations had been fully implemented and underlined the need for substantive follow-up discussions with the VA regarding corrective actions. Dr. Neal said that the VA concurred with the recommendations and intended to address them through the department’s ongoing police consolidation and oversight efforts.

• The Chairman also asked about morale and staffing within the Wichita VA police force. Chief Allan replied that communication and leadership engagement had improved significantly over the previous several months and said officer morale was the highest he had seen during his 22 years with VA police. He acknowledged that staffing levels were still below ideal levels but expressed confidence that the VA’s new hiring pipeline and manpower efforts would improve staffing in the near future.

• Chairman Moran asked the witnesses whether there were any final points they wished to make. Mr. Engelbaum underscored that VA leadership took the GAO findings seriously while also noting that most veterans and healthcare workers reported feeling safe at VA facilities.

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