Priority Open Recommendations: Department of Veterans Affairs

What GAO Found

In May 2025, GAO identified 29 priority recommendations for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Since then, VA has implemented two of those recommendations.

In May 2026, GAO identified an additional 3 priority recommendations, bringing the total to 30. GAO is highlighting the following three areas that warrant timely and focused attention:

• Improving quality and timely access to health care,
• Modernizing information technology, and
• Enhancing acquisition management.

Addressing GAO's recommendations in these areas would help VA respond to risks that could interfere with the quality and timeliness of veterans' health care; achieve cost savings and better oversee information technology efforts; and address challenges with its high-risk acquisition management. Taking action to implement all of GAO's open priority recommendations would help enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of operations across VA.

Why GAO Did This Study

Priority open recommendations are the GAO recommendations that warrant priority attention from heads of key departments or agencies because their implementation could save large amounts of money; improve congressional and/or executive branch decision-making on major issues; eliminate mismanagement, fraud, and abuse; or make progress toward addressing a high risk or duplication issue, among other benefits. Since 2015, GAO has sent letters to selected agencies to highlight the importance of implementing such recommendations.

For more information, contact Jess Farb at [email protected].