Veteran Readiness and Employment Staff Improperly Sent Participants to Veteran Employment Through Technology Education Courses

The Veteran Readiness and Employment (VR&E) Service and Veteran Employment Through Technology Education Courses (VET TEC) programs support veterans seeking education or training for employment. VR&E focuses on disabilities that directly impact employment, and participants must attend GI Bill approved programs (or obtain a waiver). VET TEC was created for veterans pursuing high technology training. VET TEC programs must meet less stringent approval requirements, are not approved for use under the GI Bill, and require a waiver from the executive director for VR&E participants to use them. The VA Office of Inspector General (OIG) conducted this review to assess the allegation that a VET TEC training provider was knowingly enrolling VR&E participants with improper authorizations. The allegation also stated that some VR&E counselors have worked with the training provider while others have not. Upon review, the OIG substantiated the allegation that VR&E staff improperly authorized 31 participants to attend courses offered by the VET TEC training provider mentioned by the complainant. The team also identified 11 additional VR&E participants attending courses at eight other VET TEC training providers that VR&E staff improperly authorized. Because 33 of 42 VR&E participants were improperly enrolled to attend VET TEC courses, the OIG considers the $387,000 spent on those courses between April 1, 2019, and December 31, 2022, as improper payments. The improper authorizations occurred because VR&E staff were not adequately informed about VET TEC and were generally unaware the program could not be used by VR&E participants. VR&E controls also did not prevent participants from being authorized for and enrolled in unapproved courses. The OIG made the following two recommendations to the undersecretary for benefits: develop and implement polices and system controls to verify programs approved meet requirements; and provide training for all appropriate VR&E regional office staff.