VA DATA Access Transparency and Accountability Act of 2025
- Bill Number
- H.R. 2828
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Armed Forces and National Security
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-05-08: Referred to the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations.
- Last Updated
- 2025-12-12T09:07:12Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The VA DATA Access Transparency and Accountability Act of 2025 aims to protect the privacy and security of veterans' personal information held by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) by limiting access to this data by the United States DOGE Service (commonly known as the Department of Government Efficiency) and certain temporary government workers, known as special Government employees.
Key Provisions
- Ban on DOGE Access: The Secretary of Veterans Affairs is prohibited from granting the Administrator of the US DOGE Service access to any veteran's data maintained by the VA.
- Limits on Special Government Employees: Special Government employees (temporary appointees who work less than 130 days in a year, as defined in federal law) cannot access or remove ("exfiltrate") veterans' data from VA systems unless it is for an official government purpose approved by the VA Secretary. Such access is forbidden for commercial profit or unauthorized reasons.
- Data Return Requirements: When a special Government employee's service ends, the VA Secretary must ensure the employee returns all accessed veterans' data and does not keep any copies.
- Definitions:
- Veteran's data: Includes personal health information (details about a veteran's past, present, or future health, medical treatment, or related payments), personal identifying information (e.g., name, Social Security number, address, date of birth, medical or financial records, or biometric data like fingerprints), and financial information.
- Special Government employee: A part-time or temporary federal worker, as outlined in 18 U.S.C. § 202(a).
Significant Changes to Existing Law
This bill introduces new, specific restrictions on data sharing within the federal government, particularly targeting the US DOGE Service—a relatively new or proposed entity focused on government efficiency—and special Government employees. It builds on existing privacy laws (like those protecting health and identifying information) by explicitly barring access for non-VA purposes, which was not previously codified in this targeted manner for veterans' data.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: The VA gains stronger controls over its data systems, potentially reducing administrative burdens from external audits or efficiency reviews by DOGE. The DOGE Service may face limitations in its operations, such as cost-cutting or oversight functions that could involve VA data.
- On Citizens: Veterans benefit from enhanced privacy protections, reducing risks of data misuse, identity theft, or unauthorized commercialization of their sensitive information (e.g., health or financial details).
- On International Relations: No direct impacts, as the bill focuses on domestic federal data handling.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Veterans: Primary beneficiaries, as their personal, health, and financial data is safeguarded from external access.
- Department of Veterans Affairs: Responsible for enforcing restrictions and managing data access, which may require updated internal policies and monitoring.
- US DOGE Service: Directly restricted from accessing VA data, potentially hindering its efficiency or reform initiatives involving veterans' programs.
- Special Government Employees: Subject to new rules on data handling, with obligations to return information upon leaving service, affecting roles in advisory or temporary positions.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal Implications: Strengthens compliance with broader privacy frameworks (e.g., HIPAA for health data) by adding VA-specific safeguards, potentially setting precedents for restricting inter-agency data sharing. Violations could lead to enforcement actions under federal ethics or data protection laws.
- Constitutional Implications: Aligns with privacy rights under the Fourth Amendment (protection against unreasonable searches) and due process, emphasizing government accountability in handling citizen data without raising direct constitutional challenges.
- Political Implications: The bill reflects concerns over emerging government entities like DOGE, possibly introduced amid debates on federal efficiency reforms, promoting transparency and accountability in how temporary or external officials interact with sensitive public data.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Rep. Conaway, Herbert [D-NJ-3]
Cosponsors (3)
Rep. Carbajal, Salud O. [D-CA-24], Rep. Houlahan, Chrissy [D-PA-6], Rep. Frankel, Lois [D-FL-22]
Recent Actions
- 2025-05-08: Referred to the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations.
- 2025-04-10: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
- 2025-04-10: Introduced in House
- 2025-04-10: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- VA DATA Access Transparency and Accountability Act of 2025 — issued 2025-04-10 — PDF (4 pages)