The U.S. Senate on Dec. 11 unanimously passed a bipartisan bill introduced by U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran (R-KS) and supported by U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-SD) that would reform the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs’ (VA’s) acquisition processes.
The Acquisition Reform and Cost Assessment (ARCA) Act of 2025, S. 1591, which Sen. Moran sponsored in May, now heads to the U.S. House of Representatives for consideration.
“The VA should be high-performing, accountable and continually working to improve the services and benefits that our nation’s veterans have earned through their service,” Sen. Moran said. “This legislation builds a modern and accountable procurement framework that makes certain VA can efficiently acquire the tools, technology and services veterans rely on without waste or delays, and I look forward to its passage in the House and to it being signed into law.”
Since 2018, the Government Accountability Office has had the VA acquisition process on its “high risk list” and the VA Office of Inspector General has released multiple reports stating a need for acquisition reform.
If enacted, S. 1591 would create a centralized Office of Acquisition at the VA, allowing the department to define major acquisition programs, streamline oversight and contracting processes, enhance accountability through independent evaluations and reporting, and implement improved training for VA personnel.
In turn, the VA would be able to address known deficiencies in its current acquisition processes, thereby strengthening its ability to achieve timely and cost-effective results for veterans across the country, according to a bill summary provided by the lawmakers.
“Our nation’s veterans deserve a VA that delivers results, not red tape,” said Sen. Rounds, who signed on as a cosponsor of S. 1591 on Nov. 4. “By simplifying the purchase of necessary supplies, we expedite the delivery of services to our veterans. I’m pleased that our effort to eliminate this red tape and speed up service for veterans has passed the Senate.”
The measure has been endorsed by Vietnam Veterans of America, the Coalition for Common Sense in Government Procurement, the Professional Services Council, and the National Veteran Small Business Coalition.