EXPANDING ACCESS AND CREATING OPPORTUNITY: Today, President Donald J. Trump signed an Executive Order to modernize data management and data sharing between the Departments of War and Veterans Affairs in order to expedite veterans’ access to benefits. The Order directs the Secretary of War and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to update information technology systems to ensure the sharing of all Official Military Personnel Files and Service Treatment Records from the moment an individual enters into military service through the duration the individual receives Veterans Affairs benefits.
The Order directs the Secretary of War and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to create and deploy new digital tools, using secure artificial intelligence and other emerging capabilities consistent with applicable privacy protections, to streamline veterans’ applications for and access to benefits earned in their military service in a single comprehensive source.
The Order directs the Secretary of War and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to coordinate with the Director of the Office of Management and Budget and the Secretary of Health and Human Services to ensure current and future information technology contracts facilitate electronic sharing of personnel and medical files consistent with applicable privacy protections.
The Order directs the Secretary of War, the Secretary of Labor, and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to overhaul the Transition Assistance to improve career guidance, including job opportunities and training opportunities, to service members leaving active-duty service and to proactively connect transitioning service members with a veterans specialist from federal, state, or local governments who can help them facilitate their benefit applications. REMOVING ANTIQUATED SYSTEM BARRIERS TO DELIVER RESULTS: President Trump is removing the inefficiencies and delays that hinder our service members and veterans from receiving the benefits and support they deserve.
Millions of brave men and women have served in our Armed Forces with courage,…