VA’s Performance Report among Best in Federal Sector

Department Cited Eight Years in a Row

WASHINGTON – Continuing its commitment to give veterans a clear, meaningful view of how the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is performing, VA was recently rated by an independent research center as having one of the best annual performance reports in the federal sector for the eighth year in a row.

“The findings of this prestigious research center show that we’re among the best in the federal sector at providing meaningful information to the American public about our operations and performance,” said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Jim Nicholson.  

Since 2000, the Mercatus Center of George Mason University has examined the performance and accountability reports issued annually by federal agencies.  This year, VA tied for second-best in the federal government, receiving 51 points on a 60-point scale.  VA also tied for having the highest score in transparency, an example of the Department’s commitment to provide information that is useful and easy to understand.

Called Eighth Annual Performance Report Scorecard: Which Federal Agencies Best Inform the Public?, the new Mercatus study found VA’s reports are “rich in information on efforts to improve programmatic and managerial performance.”

“These findings show that VA has developed a management culture that sets high standards, measurable goals and accountability to the American public,” Nicholson said. 

VA published its latest performance and accountability report in November 2006.  It documents VA’s progress toward ensuring that America’s veterans and their families receive timely, compassionate, high-quality care and benefits.  The Department’s report can be found on the Internet at: http://www.va.gov/budget/report.  

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