Providing an Order of Succession Within the Department of Veterans Affairs
Headline: Establishes Succession Order for Department of Veterans Affairs
What it does: The Department of Veterans Affairs must follow the listed order of officials to act as Secretary when both the Secretary and Deputy cannot serve.
- Determines who leads Veterans Affairs if top two officials cannot serve.
- Bars officials serving only in acting roles from becoming Acting Secretary under this order.
- Allows the President to appoint a different acting Secretary when legally permitted.
Summary
This order sets who will step in as Secretary of Veterans Affairs if both the Secretary and the Deputy Secretary die, resign, or cannot perform their duties. It names a ranked list of officials—from under secretaries to the Chairman of the Board of Veterans' Appeals—to act as Secretary in that situation.
It also says that anyone serving only in an acting role cannot become Acting Secretary under this order, and that the President may choose someone else when the law allows.
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