Sunset Office of Accountability and Whistleblower Protection; decouple HRA from OSP
Mandate recommends working with Congress to sunset OAWP as redundant with supervisors/EEO/OIG/OSC, and considering decoupling HRA from the Office of Security and Preparedness combined when OAWP was created without a new Assistant Secretary slot.
Mandate
Mandate Ch. 20 (Veterans Affairs) — HRA: work with Congress to sunset the Office of Accountability and Whistleblower Protection (OAWP), described as redundant and causing lengthy investigations and ineffective accountability; consider decoupling HRA and Office of Security and Preparedness (OSP), combined to free a PAS slot when OAWP was established.
Undo plan
1) Keep an independent VA whistleblower accountability channel; do not sunset OAWP without a stronger replacement.
2) If reorganizing, ensure whistleblowers retain OSC/OIG pathways plus VA-specific intake.
3) Separate security/preparedness from HR only if both missions retain PAS-level leadership capacity.
4) Codify timelines for misconduct cases that protect due process and reporters.
5) Verify: track retaliation complaints and case cycle times post any reorganization.