The Under Secretary for Benefits (USB), in the

United States Department of Veterans Affairs The United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is a Cabinet-level executive branch department of the federal government charged with providing life-long healthcare services to eligible military veterans at the 170 VA medical centers a ...

, directs the

Veterans Benefits Administration The Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) is an agency of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. It is responsible for administering the department's programs that provide financial and other forms of assistance to veterans, their dependents ...

through regional offices in 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the Philippines. The Under Secretary is responsible for the administration of benefits provided by the Department to veterans and dependents, including compensation, pension, education, home loan guaranty, vocational rehabilitation, and life insurance.

History

The Veterans Benefits Administration has been in existence since the creation of the

Department of Veterans Affairs The United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is a Cabinet-level executive branch department of the federal government charged with providing life-long healthcare services to eligible military veterans at the 170 VA medical centers an ...

in October 1988, when it was led by a chief benefits director. In 1994, the title was changed to Under Secretary of Veterans Affairs for Benefits. Under Secretary Allison A. Hickey resigned in October 2015. On February 27, 2018, President

Donald Trump Donald John Trump (born June 14, 1946) is an American politician, media personality, and businessman who served as the 45th president of the United States from 2017 to 2021. Trump graduated from the Wharton School of the University of P ...

nominated Paul R. Lawrence to become the under secretary of veterans affairs for benefits. The nomination was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on April 26, 2018 by Voice Vote. Mr Reeves was sworn in by SECVA on May 15, 2018. He resigned the post on January 20, 2021. President Joe Biden nominated Raymond M. Jefferson to serve as the Undersecretary on March 21, 2022, but his nomination was withdrawn on July 11. After the nomination was withdrawn, Joshua Jacobs became the acting under secretary while serving as the Senior Advisor to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, from to . He replaced Thomas J. Murphy, who is the director of the Northeast District,

. Murphy served as acting Undersecretary twice during his career: from June 2016 through May 2018 and from January 2021 through July 2022. On January 23, 2023, President Biden announced that he had nominated Jacobs to become the permanent USB. His nomination was confirmed by the Senate on April 26, 2023, and he started at the position on the same day.

Role and responsibilities

The under secretary is appointed by the

president President most commonly refers to: *President (corporate title) * President (education), a leader of a college or university * President (government title) President may also refer to: Automobiles * Nissan President, a 1966–2010 Japanese ...

and confirmed by the Senate. The occupant of the position is required to be appointed without regard to political affiliation and solely on the basis of his or her demonstrated ability in fiscal management and the administration of programs within the Veterans Benefits Administration or programs of similar content and scope. The Under Secretary is appointed for terms of four years, and reappointment is possible for successive periods. The president is required to communicate his reasons to

Congress A congress is a formal meeting of the representatives of different countries, constituent states, organizations, trade unions, political parties, or other groups. The term originated in Late Middle English to denote an encounter (meeting of ...

if the under secretary for Benefits is removed from office. Whenever there is a vacancy in the position, the

secretary of veterans affairs The United States secretary of veterans affairs is the head of the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, the department concerned with veterans' benefits, health care, and national veterans' memorials and cemeteries. The secretary is a me ...

must set up a commission to recommend to the President candidates for appointment.

References

{{USVA agencies United States Department of Veterans Affairs officials