The Department of Veterans Affairs is maintaining a list to vet non-U.S. citizens who work for or are affiliated with the agency.
The VA's offices nationwide have long identified every non-citizen who is "employed or affiliated" with the department, including part-timers, contractors, medical trainees, and volunteers.
The information is reportedly scheduled to be compiled into a report for Veterans Affairs Secretary Doug Collins by Dec. 30 — a move that could include thousands of doctors, nurses, contractors, trainees, and even military veterans — according to a memo obtained by The Guardian.
"There is nothing new about this effort," VA press secretary Pete Kasperowicz told Newsmax, when reached for comment.
"VA is required by federal law to continuously vet all employees and affiliates, such as unpaid researchers and others who may have access to VA data or systems, to ensure they meet the federal government’s trusted workforce standards.
"As part of this continuous process, VA on Nov. 25 directed under secretaries, assistant secretaries and other key officials to provide a report on all non-United States citizens who are employed by or affiliated with VA."
The memo, signed by VA chief of staff Christopher Syrek and dated Nov. 15, cites federal "trusted workforce" vetting requirements.
The directive's broad language sweeps anyone with access to a VA facility or computer system — from front-line healthcare workers to outside researchers, janitorial contractors, and student clinicians rotating through VA hospitals.
"VA continuously vets all employees and affiliates and has done so for many years," Kasperowicz said.
The VA employs more than 450,000 people nationwide and works with thousands of contractors, making it one of the government's largest and most complex agencies.
Some congressional Democrats told The Guardian they fear the measure could chill recruitment at a department already facing staffing shortages.
Rep. Delia Ramirez, D-Ill., called the directive "an effort to stoke fear," claiming it could affect legally authorized workers and even veterans who are not U.S. citizens.
Former VA officials also expressed concerns that the policy could discourage foreign-born medical professionals from working in the system, potentially affecting patient care.
The Guardian reports the VA action aligns with a wider Trump administration effort to expand data sharing between federal agencies and the Department of Homeland Security.
"VA will share any adverse findings with the appropriate agencies to ensure anyone who is not authorized to be in the U.S. is dealt with accordingly," Kasperowicz said.
Eric Mack ✉
Eric Mack has been a writer and editor at Newsmax since 2016. He is a 1998 Syracuse University journalism graduate and a New York Press Association award-winning writer.
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