The Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General reports that the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) is facing its most significant staffing shortages in more than a decade. In fiscal year (FY) 2025, VHA facilities reported 4,434 severe occupational staffing shortages, a 50% increase from the 2,959 shortages reported in FY 2024. All 139 facilities identified shortages, with the number of shortage occupations per facility ranging from 2 to 153.
The annual report is mandated under the Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act of 2014, and the VA Choice and Quality Employment Act of 2017. The report identifies a minimum of five clinical and five nonclinical occupations that are experiencing the greatest shortage at each medical center.
For the twelfth consecutive year, Medical Officer and Nurse positions remain the most frequently reported shortages. Overall, 94% of facilities (131 out of 139) reported severe shortages of Medical Officers, while 79% of facilities (110 out of 139) reported shortages of Nurses. Just as emphasized in previous reports, they are vital to healthcare delivery and needed when a shortage exists, even though the Veterans Health Administration has noncompetitive appointment authority for its Title 38 positions.
Psychology was the highest clinical reported shortage at 57%, or 79 of 139 facilities, and down from 61% in fiscal year 2024. Other shortages in the top cluster contained an array of nursing assistant and other physician specialties. Overall, 41 reported occupations were in shortage for at least 20% of the facilities, the largest number since fiscal year 2018.
Among nonclinical positions, Police were reported as having the highest shortages across the Veterans Health Administration by 58% of sites (80 of 139). Custodial Worker was not far behind with 57% (79 of 139) reporting shortages. Other nonclinical positions frequently reported as having shortages included supply clerical and technician roles.
The VA Long Beach Healthcare System in California had the greatest total number of shortages, 153, and is the greatest-ever total number of shortages reported for a facility since FY 2018. VA Long Beach also had the most clinical shortages, 116. The Minneapolis VA Health Care System in Minnesota had the greatest number of nonclinical shortages, at 52.
Data were collected through a web-based questionnaire conducted from March 26 to April 9, 2025. The responses were not independently verified. The review did not assess shortage causes or workforce reshaping activities such as the Deferred Resignation Program announced by the Office of Personnel Management in January 2025, which allows eligible employees to submit a deferred resignation and not be required to return to the office for their pay and benefits, effective until on or about September 30, 2025.
While the Office of Inspector General did not provide any formal recommendations, it encouraged Veterans Affairs leaders to consider the findings from the report in future staff-related efforts. The report also emphasized the importance of finalizing work to address the open recommendations and suggestions in the August 2021 report on Veterans Health Administration staffing models.
The sustained rise in shortages, particularly in critical health roles, shows the ongoing challenges the Department of Veterans Affairs must overcome to provide timely and effective care to the nation’s veterans. The complete report, OIG Determination of Veterans Health Administration’s Severe Occupational Staffing Shortages, Fiscal Year 2025, can be found on the VA OIG website.
References: US Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General. OIG Determination of Veterans Health Administration’s Severe Occupational Staffing Shortages Fiscal Year 2025. 2025; 25-01135-196. OIG Determination of Veterans Health Administration’s Severe Occupational Staffing Shortages Fiscal Year 2025 | Department of Veterans Affairs OIG
