Thousands of Virginia jobs could be at risk due to an expansion of job classification review
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is currently engaged in a significant consistency review aimed at ensuring that the descriptions of over 24,000 VA positions comply with Office of Personnel Management (OPM) standards and that positions are graded consistently across the department[1].
This review, which began under the Biden administration and has expanded under the Trump administration, is part of a broader initiative to maintain compliance with federal human resources policies and improve internal controls related to staffing and position management[3][5]. The review is a "consistency review" required by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM).
The VA is reviewing thousands of positions, covering nearly 60 occupational series, as part of this effort to align position descriptions and classification grades properly[1]. This review includes an "incumbent only" review, where employees are grandfathered into their position descriptions[2].
Positions that are found to be misclassified or not in compliance with OPM standards may face potential downgrades. However, employees who are downgraded as a result of the consistency review are entitled to mandatory grade retention for two years, followed by mandatory pay retention, under OPM rules[1].
The VA is prioritizing reviews of occupations eligible for special salary rates, including health care workers, police, security, logistics, contracting, and finance personnel[4]. The goal of the consistency review is to ensure positions are classified in compliance with OPM classification standards and graded consistently VHA-wide.
The consistency review aims to eliminate ambiguity and enforce uniform standards in position classification, reflecting OPM's guidance on grading and description requirements[3][5]. The review is being carried out in five waves, with the VA reporting its findings back to OPM on a rolling basis[2].
In a recent statement, Thomas Dargon, supervisory attorney for AFGE's National VA Council, noted that the number of affected positions and employees in VA's internal documents exceed the estimates provided during the previous administration[6]. The reviews are expected to continue through at least June 2026.
It is worth noting that the VA recently announced plans to cut nearly 30,000 positions from its workforce by the end of this fiscal year[7]. However, the VA is no longer planning a "department-wide" reduction in force to cut more than 80,000 positions, as previously announced[8].
In addition, the Trump administration no longer recognizes AFGE's ability to collectively bargain for VA employees[9]. The VA is also planning to eliminate a special salary rate and critical skills incentive that increased pay for human resources officials by about 15%[4].
In conclusion, the VA's consistency review is a significant, ongoing process that is reviewing over 24,000 positions for OPM compliance and consistent grading, with a focus on standardizing position descriptions and classifications department-wide to ensure fairness and regulatory adherence[1][3][5]. The review is expected to continue through at least June 2026, impacting approximately 24,444 employees as of October 2024.
- As part of the consistency review, the VA is prioritizing reviews of occupations that are eligible for special salary rates, which include positions such as finance personnel.
- Positions that are found to be misclassified or not in compliance with OPM standards within the federal workforce may face potential downgrades, but employees entitled to mandatory grade and pay retention under OPM rules will be protected for two years.
