VACANT Act

HR 693, the VACANT Act, requires the VA Secretary to notify Congress when a medical center director is temporarily reassigned to another VA role. Specifically, the Secretary must provide details (like location, position, and expected absence duration) within 90 days of the detail, appoint an acting director within 120 days, and update Congress every 30 days while the position remains vacant. The bill mandates that directors return to their medical center role or a new director is hired within 180 days (with limited 540-day waivers for specific reasons), ensuring leadership continuity at VA medical centers. This directly affects VA medical center operations and Congress through mandated reporting.