Alaska VA tech rollout faces staffing questions ahead of October launch

Alaska’s VA health system is preparing for a major technology change this fall, even as senators question whether the Department of Veterans Affairs has lost too many experienced IT workers.

Gary Shatswell, nominated to lead the VA’s Office of Information and Technology, acknowledged Wednesday that IT employees have left the department since the administration took office. But he did not confirm the number cited by Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., who said the VA had lost 1,300 IT employees.

The question matters in Alaska because the Alaska VA Healthcare System is scheduled to convert to the Federal Electronic Health Record on Oct. 24. The system is meant to connect VA and Department of Defense health records, but its rollout depends heavily on training, cybersecurity and technical support.

Shatswell said the departures happened before he arrived at VA on Dec. 1, 2025, and said he was not aware of the individual workers’ skills or roles.

When Blumenthal asked whether Shatswell would commit to restoring skilled IT staff, Shatswell said there was room to bring in young college graduates to build skill levels within VA IT.

Blumenthal pressed him after Shatswell said he was not aware of IT employees leaving since his arrival.

"And you're saying no IT employees have left in the last seven months?" Blumenthal asked.

Committee Chair Jerry Moran, R-Kan., asked Shatswell to provide quarterly briefings on OIT workforce changes, cybersecurity threats and modernization projects. Shatswell agreed and said he hoped the briefings would happen more often.

The committee did not vote Wednesday.