Trump has signed a new VA law
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President Donald Trump last Friday signed a new bill into law, the new law will in turn make it easier and faster for the Department of Veterans Affairs to fire the employees. This is part of a push intended to make an overhaul within the agency that has been struggling to serve millions of military vets. During the White House ceremony, the President thanked the veterans for their services.

Trump had promised during his election campaign to dismiss VA workers, who are not delivering, and he cast Friday's bill signing as fulfilment of that promise.

This new measure was influenced by the 2014 scandal: Phoenix VA medical centre. It was reported that some veterans had died as they waited months for care. The Department of Veterans Affairs happens to be the second-largest department in the U.S. government, currently the department has than 350,000 employees. The main functions of the VA department include providing health care and other services to military veterans.

Many federal employee unions in the country have opposed this new measure. The VA Secretary David Shulkin, who is an Obama administration holdover, was standing alongside President Trump as the president made fun that he might have to start using his famous reality TV catchphrase of  "You're fired" just in case the reforms will not be implemented.

The new legislation, has received plenty of support from many veterans' groups. The bill was cleared in the House just last week by an overwhelmingly bipartisan vote of 368-55. It replaced an earlier version, which the Democrats had vehemently criticized and described to overly unfair to the employees. The Senate passed the bill by voice vote a week earlier.

Paul Rieckhoff, who is the founder of the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, praised the move made by the president. The bill indeed was a rare initiative by Trump that got Democratic support.  The new law will lower the burden of proof to fire employees, allowing for dismissal even if most evidence is in a worker's favour.

The American Federation of Government Employees (the largest federal employee union in the US), has opposed the new bill. However, the Senate-passed measure which was seen as more balance with workers' rights unlike the version that was passed by the House in March.

The bill has turned another of President Trump's campaign promises into law by forming a permanent VA accountability office. The office was established by President Trump by executive order in April.