VA Centralizes Its Police Force Under New Command Structure
Long-standing problems with recruitment, accountability, and security have pushed the Department of Veterans Affairs to overhaul how it manages its 5,000-member police force.
The Department of Veterans Affairs announced this week a restructuring of its police force, consolidating command authority under a new centralized framework after years of documented failures within staffing, security, and officer accountability. The reforms are set to be fully implemented by the end of fiscal year 2026, representing a significant change to VA law enforcement.
A Decentralized Structure Under Scrutiny
The VA's roughly 5,000 police officers had been managed by individual medical centers and answered to civilian hospital administrators rather than law enforcement leaders. This arrangement is noted by federal watchdogs and department officials as contributing to chronic staffing and accountability problems.
The lack of a centralized structure made it difficult to hire, retain, and promote seasoned officers, and as a result, the VA lost many senior officers to other law enforcement agencies. The VA's own press release noted inconsistent policing standards across VA facilities and a lack of discipline and accountability. In some cases, VA police were being used to perform non-police functions, including serving as valets to park cars.
Pay classification also contributed to the retention problem. VA police positions were not properly classified in accordance with federal standards, and efforts under the prior administration to address this problem threatened to lower the grades and pay of many VA police officers, making VA less competitive compared to other law enforcement agencies.
Watchdog Reports Detail Security Gaps
Federal oversight reports painted a troubling picture of security at VA facilities in the years leading up to the announcement.
The Government Accountability Office published a report in April that found numerous safety concerns at VA facilities. During a review of 30 VA hospitals and other facilities, GAO investigators found that just two had metal detectors, and of those, one was inoperable, and staff failed to intervene when the other was activated.
Investigators also found that staff failed to stop knives from entering the buildings, didn't intervene when an investigator drank water out of a vodka bottle, and allowed investigators to enter non-public spaces, including labs and treatment rooms. The GAO had flagged similar issues in 2025, finding that contracted guards did not prevent prohibited items such as blades or batons from entering facilities about half the time.
The VA's Office of Inspector General found last year that 58% of VA facilities experienced shortages in their forces, making VA police "the most frequently reported severe nonclinical occupational staffing shortage."
The issues drew congressional attention. Reginald Neal, Assistant Secretary for Operations, Security and Preparedness, testified before the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee in May, telling members that "our VA police endured inconsistent policing standards, which led to a lack of both accountability and discipline."
The stakes are not abstract. In March, a VA social worker was killed at a VA clinic in Jasper, Georgia, by a gun-wielding patient; a uniformed security guard on duty took part in apprehending the suspect.
The Reform Plan
The centerpiece of the VA's response is centralization. The VA created a unified law-enforcement chain of command by placing the entire VA police force under a dedicated assistant secretary within the new Office of Operations, Security, and Preparedness. VA police officers are no longer managed by medical facility staff; instead, they are led by law enforcement leaders who can enforce standards and discipline, provide standardized training, and ensure nationwide staffing requirements are met.
The pay structure is also being overhauled. The VA will classify police officers at higher pay grades, starting at the GS-6 level, or roughly $48,000 a year for a rookie in a location such as Atlanta, an increase of $5,000 from the previous starting position of GS-5. Critically, the VA created positions from GS-6 through the senior executive service level, building in career stability and making the VA a more attractive place to work for law enforcement professionals.
The early signals are encouraging. A recent job posting for VA police officers drew nearly 4,000 applicants nationwide, which VA officials cited as an early indicator that the new structure is already attracting more interest from candidates.
The Role of VA Police
VA officials emphasized that the department’s law enforcement mission differs from traditional policing. While roughly 98% of the VA's police work involves non-violent crimes, VA police officers may face life-threatening situations, including patients who threaten visitors and staff, suicidal Veterans, and opportunists looking to steal from the VA or deal drugs on VA campuses.
Neal described the role in broader terms before the Senate committee.
"VA policing involves so much more in law enforcement," he said.
"When [veterans] come and they seek care, it's more than just going to see the doctor — the issues, the emotions, all the frustrations that we carry with us when we go to a facility. Our VA police are the first ones that you see when you come to a facility. They're the last ones you see when you leave. The VA police officers set the tone for that visit."
Secretary Collins on the Overhaul
VA Secretary Doug Collins framed the reforms as a core obligation to the millions of people who rely on VA facilities every day.
"Keeping the millions of Veterans, families, caregivers, and employees who visit VA facilities safe is our most important responsibility," Collins said in a statement.
"These reforms will help us accomplish that mission by creating a stable VA police force with clear lines of authority, accountability, and career progression.
The result will be better police recruitment and retention as well as improved safety and security for Veterans, staff, and visitors."
Looking Ahead
The reorganization is underway and is expected to be completed by the end of fiscal year 2026. For a department that has struggled for years to staff and professionalize its police force, the restructuring represents a significant institutional bet — that giving VA law enforcement its own chain of command, competitive pay, and clear promotion pathways will finally make it an employer of choice for officers who have long had better options elsewhere.
Whether the reforms deliver on that promise will become clear in the months ahead, as the VA works to fill its remaining vacancies and put the new command structure in place by the end of fiscal year 2026.
Continue Reading
The Mysterious and Fascinating History of the Military Challenge Coin
Military History
The Chicken-Powered Nuke: Inside Britain's Bizarre Cold War Secret
Military History
The Whisky War: 49 Years of Good-Natured, Bloodless Conflict
Military History
Join the Conversation
BY TRACY FUGA
Military Spouse & Military Lifestyle Writer at VeteranLife
Tracy Fuga is a San Diego-based writer, editor, and marketing professional with nearly two decades of experience in content creation and communications. A former editor at MARCOA Media — the original publisher of MyBaseGuide — she has a long-standing connection to the military community as the pro...
Expertise
Tracy Fuga is a San Diego-based writer, editor, and marketing professional with nearly two decades of experience in content creation and communications. A former editor at MARCOA Media — the original publisher of MyBaseGuide — she has a long-standing connection to the military community as the pro...
