The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) has issued an interim final rule that allows current and former Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) employees to appeal the recoupment of awards, bonuses, or relocation expenses. This regulation, which stems from the Department of Veterans Affairs Accountability and Whistleblower Protection Act of 2017, establishes procedures for these appeals to be made to the Director of OPM if the VA requires repayment, possibly due to misconduct or errors in payment authorization. OPM's review is limited to ensuring the VA followed its recoupment policies and relevant legal procedures, without evaluating the underlying disciplinary actions. The rule aims to provide clarity and fairness in the appeal process and is open for public comment until March 17, 2025.
Simple Explanation
The government says people working for the Department of Veterans Affairs can ask to get back money like bonuses if they're told to repay it, but they have to do it through certain steps. They're also asking people to share what they think about this new plan by March 2025.