President Donald Trump has ordered federal agencies to modernize military record sharing and connect service members leaving active duty with benefits, training and open jobs.
The executive order sets deadlines for the departments identified in the order as War and Veterans Affairs to share personnel and medical records, build new digital benefit tools and revise transition programs.
The White House said existing record systems can delay health coverage, benefit payments, education assistance and employment services as people move from military to civilian life.
Records and digital tools
Within 180 days, the two departments must establish updated technology systems and policies for permanent, ongoing sharing of Official Military Personnel Files and Service Treatment Records.
The sharing is to begin when a person enters military service and continue as long as the person needs Veterans Affairs benefits, subject to federal privacy, health-information and veterans laws.
The order also requires new digital tools within 180 days. Those tools are to use artificial intelligence and other technology to provide a single source for veterans' benefit applications, job training and employment opportunities offered through the Labor Department.
Within 30 days, the military department must ensure that current service members' personnel and health records are provided to Veterans Affairs immediately when they are discharged or released from service. That requirement is to continue after the initial deadline.
Contracts and interoperability
Within 120 days, the military and veterans departments must review relevant technology contracts with the departments of Health and Human Services and the Office of Management and Budget.
Existing contracts are to be modified when consistent with procurement law so record systems can exchange information. Future contracts for medical and personnel systems must include interoperability requirements.
The review will involve the federal health information technology office, the federal chief information officer and the administrator for federal procurement policy.
Employment connections before separation
Within 180 days, the military department must update the Transition Assistance Program and other workforce programs with the Labor and Veterans Affairs departments.
To the extent practicable, every departing service member is to be connected before separation with open jobs matching the person's skills and goals or offered enrollment in career and technical education, a Labor Department-funded program or a registered apprenticeship.
The order also calls for departing service members to be connected with federal, state or local veterans representatives who can help with health care, disability, home loan, job placement and education benefit applications.
Job connections are to focus on fields related to each service member's skills and interests, including goals in the administration's talent strategy and a military employment initiative called Project Patriot Pipeline.
Veterans who choose training instead of immediate placement may use eligible career programs and apprenticeships, including programs that give veterans priority under federal law.
The order is intended to cover personnel records and service treatment records throughout a person's military career, reducing the need to transfer a new set of files only after separation.
Implementation is subject to existing law and available funding. The order states that it does not create a new right that individuals can enforce in court.
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