House panel faults DOD on late TAP participation, seeks stronger commander accountability

Chairman of the House Veterans' Affairs Subcommittee Rep. Van Orden opened the oversight hearing by focusing on how many service members are failing to get timely Transition Assistance Program (TAP) services, telling witnesses that TAP attendance rose from about 25 percent to 52 percent and calling that “unacceptable.”

The panel pressed the Department of Defense on whether it has reliable verification that transitioning service members receive required warm handovers to community resources. Ranking Member Rep. Pappas referred to a March 2024 Government Accountability Office report that found commanders verified warm handovers for nearly 78,000 transitioning service members who were not recorded as having received one; the GAO recommended DOD provide commanders additional guidance and better database recording.

The Department of Defense witness told the subcommittee that the services have taken steps in response. "Just yesterday, a new course stood up on the TAP site that is for military commanders," the witness said, and added that service Inspector General teams have begun closer reviews of the TAP process. The witness said corrective action plans from the services were accepted by GAO and that, "By the end of 2023, timeliness percentage doubled and 2 day track attendance increased by over 7%."

Lawmakers from both parties expressed frustration that TAP, which federal law requires begin no later than one year before separation for eligible members, is not reaching nearly half of separating service members in a timely way. Members pressed DOD for further steps to make TAP adherence a unit-level priority; several lawmakers said commander education and IG scrutiny are important but insufficient without clearer accountability. Chairman Van Orden repeatedly signaled he expects personnel consequences for commanders whose units fail to give service members access to TAP, saying, "We start burning these people down with shoulder boards, it'll be fixed immediately." He also warned the committee would pursue mechanisms to hold individual officers accountable for failures in TAP delivery.

Panelists and witnesses discussed administrative remedies already in motion — increased training for commanders, new commander-focused guidance on the TAP site, and service Inspector General spotlight reviews — while acknowledging additional cultural and administrative changes are needed to meet statutory timing requirements. Witnesses described TAP as a "commander's program" intended to balance readiness with transition needs and said interagency work with VA and DOL remains central to closing gaps.

No formal legislative actions were taken at the hearing. Lawmakers asked for follow-up from DOD on implementation timelines, verification of warm handovers, and the results of ongoing Inspector General reviews.

Closing remarks emphasized that improving timely TAP participation is both a readiness and a “national security” concern in members' view, and committee staff were directed to continue oversight and pursue changes that increase commander accountability and measurement of TAP outcomes.