🤔 Lawmakers Investigate VA’s AI-Driven Contract Cuts

Sens. Richard Blumenthal (D‑CT) and Angus King (I‑ME) have formally requested that the VA Inspector General launch a review into the mass cancellation of VA contracts—raising serious questions about the AI tool DOGE used to identify expendable agreements .

Key concerns:

  • The AI-driven tool flagged over 600 contracts as “nonessential”, but lawmakers say the process lacked reliable human oversight
  • They’re worried AI is being used to make broad decisions without proper transparency, governance, or quality control
  • Some contracts reportedly canceled support vital veteran services, including those related to toxic exposure and cancer treatment

This follows last month’s ProPublica report exposing the tool’s significant errors during the contract “munching” process.

đź“Ł Why It Matters for Local 2328 Members

  • Congressional scrutiny may help prevent AI tools from being used to justify further cuts without due process
  • This ties back to concerns about care disruptions for veterans and job impacts—not just at VA headquarters but in facilities like Hampton
  • It reinforces the pattern we’ve seen: automation used as cover for deep cuts under the DOGE agenda

đź“Ž Read the NextGov article

Lawmakers demand review of VA’s AI-driven contract cuts – Government Executive
Sens. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., and Angus King, I-Maine, said the use of AI to identify agency contracts for termination “adds an entire new level of…
www.govexec.com

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