Agencies would share veterans’ records and connect them with jobs

The Secretaries of War and Veterans Affairs must establish systems for ongoing record sharing and create digital tools to combine access to veterans’ benefits and job training. The systems cover military personnel files and service treatment and health records for service members and veterans, along with Department of Labor job training and employment opportunities. Record sharing must follow privacy, health-record, veterans-benefits, and other applicable laws. The digital tools may use artificial intelligence and other emerging technology. The agencies must establish the record-sharing systems and create the digital tools within 180 days of September 8, 2026. Current service members’ records must be sent to Veterans Affairs immediately upon discharge or release, beginning within 30 days of that date and continuing afterward.

The Secretaries of War and Veterans Affairs must review and modify relevant technology contracts and require future systems to work with the agencies’ records systems. The direction covers military personnel, health-record, and service-treatment-record technology systems and software operated by either department. Contract changes must follow existing law and federal purchasing rules. Future contracts must include the interoperability requirement. The agencies must review and modify existing contracts within 120 days of September 8, 2026. The requirement applies to future contracts after that review period.

The Secretary of War must update transition and workforce programs to connect departing service members with open jobs or qualifying training and with veterans’ benefit representatives. The direction covers every service member leaving active duty and programs authorized under the listed military and veterans’ benefit laws. Job connections should match the person’s skills, interests, and stated goals to the maximum extent practicable and applicable. Training enrollment is at the service member’s discretion and applies to eligible education, employment, training, or apprenticeship programs. Representatives may help with healthcare, disability, home loan, job placement, and education benefit applications. The programs must be updated within 180 days of September 8, 2026 and continue afterward as applicable.