The American Federation of Government Employees is seeking immediate injunctive relief in its lawsuit against the Federal Service Impasses Panel, which may soon weigh in on the union’s collective bargaining disputes with the Department of Veterans Affairs.

In earliest days of the coronavirus pandemic, the Veterans Health Administration took apart its hiring process and found a way to waive or delay steps to onboard new employees within three days. With any luck, hiring at VHA will never be the same, the agency said.

VA Undersecretary for Benefits Paul Lawrence joined Federal Drive with Tom Temin to describe what he’s hearing and telling the veterans.

In today’s Federal Newscast, patient capacity at Veterans Affairs medical facilities is up within the last month.

The Veterans Health Administration is tracking 1,293 coronavirus cases among its employees since March, according to the department’s public data. The department has also announced a phased plan for resuming normal operations at its medical facilities, benefits offices and cemeteries.

In today’s Federal Newscast, Veterans Affairs has a new plan to eventually resume normal operations for its hospitals, cemeteries and benefits offices.

Agencies are substituting in-person hiring events with virtual job fairs and recruiting webinars, and many organizations are thinking outside the box to onboard new employees.

Contrary to what some may think, the Federal Circuit did not invalidate the Veterans Affairs Accountability and Whistleblower Protection Act and it did not permit administrative judges to mitigate discipline imposed on VA employees.

In two separate reports, VA’s inspector general describes opportunities the department missed to learn from DoD’s rocky EHR rollout in the Pacific Northwest.

Veterans who received emergency medical treatment at non-VA facilities recently achieved a victory in the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims.