Accelerating Access To Veterans’ Benefits And Employment Opportunities

This executive order, signed September 8, 2026, aims to streamline the transition from military service to veteran status by fixing record-sharing and employment gaps. Key provisions: Records sharing: Within 180 days, the Department of War and Department of Veterans Affairs must build IT systems and policies to permanently and automatically share Official Military Personnel Files and Service Treatment Records. Within 30 days, current service members' records must be shared immediately upon discharge. AI-powered benefits tools: Within 180 days, new digital tools using AI must be deployed to give veterans a single, streamlined portal for applying for benefits, including job training opportunities from the Department of Labor. Contract modernization: Within 120 days, relevant IT contracts must be reviewed and updated to require interoperability between military and VA records systems, with this requirement extended to all future contracts. Employment transition: Within 180 days, the Transition Assistance Program must be updated so departing service members are, where practicable, either connected to specific job openings matching their skills before leaving service, or enrolled in career/technical education, training programs, or apprenticeships. They must also be connected with representatives who help them apply for healthcare, disability, home loan, job placement, or education benefits. Standard provisions: The order preserves existing agency authorities and OMB functions, must be implemented within legal and budgetary limits, creates no enforceable private rights, and assigns publication costs to the VA.