VA Transparency & Trust Act of 2021
Nov 22, 2021
Statute: 135 Stat. 1484
Became law: Nov 22, 2021
Nov 22, 2021
Statute: 135 Stat. 1484
Became law: Nov 22, 2021
Summary
Makes the Department of Veterans Affairs show Congress how it plans to use and is using money given to it for the Coronavirus pandemic.
What problem does this solve?
Congress gave the Department of Veterans Affairs a lot of money to handle the Coronavirus pandemic but had no clear way to track how it was being spent. This law requires the VA to create a detailed spending plan and submit regular reports and audits to Congress to ensure the money is used correctly.
What does this law do?
Requires a detailed spending plan
Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to give Congress a detailed plan for how all Coronavirus pandemic funds will be used within 30 days of the law passing.
Mandates biweekly spending reports
Requires the VA Secretary to send a report to Congress every two weeks detailing how pandemic funds were spent and explaining any changes from the original plan.
Establishes Inspector General audits
Directs the VA's Inspector General to audit the spending of pandemic funds every six months for three years and report any waste, fraud, or abuse to Congress.
Who does this affect?
- Department of Veterans Affairs
- U.S. Veterans
- Taxpayers
What is the real world impact?
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Ensures accountability for pandemic funds
Creates a system of regular reporting and audits to make sure that the large amount of money given to the VA for the pandemic is spent wisely and for its intended purpose, helping veterans.
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Prevents waste, fraud, and abuse
Requires multiple government watchdogs, like the Inspector General and Comptroller General, to review the VA's spending. This helps catch any misuse of taxpayer money early on.
When does this start?
This law sets several deadlines for the Department of Veterans Affairs and government watchdogs to report on pandemic spending.
VA spending plan submission
The VA must submit its detailed spending plan to Congress no later than 30 days after the law was enacted on November 22, 2021.
Inspector General audit begins
The first audit by the Inspector General must be submitted to Congress within 120 days of the law's enactment.
Comptroller General interim report
The Comptroller General must submit an interim review of the VA's spending to Congress by September 30, 2022.
Comptroller General final report
The Comptroller General must submit a final report on the VA's pandemic spending to Congress by September 30, 2024.