FOVA submits formal comments on OMB's proposed rule (Docket OMB-2026-0034), warning that provisions on political review, discretionary termination, and international collaboration would cause serious and lasting harm to VA research.

The FOVA Executive Committee appreciates that the final FY26 MilCon-VA agreement preserves full-year funding for the VA and maintains strong support for the VA Medical and Prosthetic Research program.

The FOVA coalition is deeply concerned about the potential impact of the ongoing federal government shutdown on the VA research mission and health care delivery.

FOVA commends VA's hiring freeze exemptions for critical research personnel but warns that OPM's failure to release VA appointments has halted the hiring process, disrupting research and clinical trials.