VET TEC — Veterans Employment Through Technology Education Courses

VET TEC (Veteran Employment Through Technology Education Courses) is a pilot run by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, created under the 2017 Harry W. Colmery Veterans Educational Assistance Act. It pays tuition and a living stipend so eligible veterans can attend short, intensive courses (about three months) in coding, cybersecurity, data science and other high-tech fields at VA-approved providers, aiming to move veterans into digital-economy jobs faster than a traditional degree programme.

Veterans receive VA-funded tuition and housing stipends to attend short (~3-month), intensive technology courses delivered by VA-approved private and non-profit training providers.

Between May 2019 and May 2022, more than 6,700 veterans enrolled, with about 66% completing their course; total enrolment topped 20,000 veterans by 2024 against a $262 million budget. Enrollees were more likely than the general veteran population to be a racial or ethnic minority or to have a service-connected disability. Two GAO audits (2023 and 2025) found the VA could not calculate an employment rate for completers, did not know why about 13% of enrollees dropped out, and had defined measurable objectives for only half its stated goals; auditors also flagged about $4 million in potential administrative overpayments and roughly $28 million in provider payments that may need recovery because veterans did not secure jobs within the required 180-day window.

VA has revised the programme (branded 'VET TEC 2.0') in response to the audit findings. The case is a caution that enrolment and funding figures alone do not prove a digital-skills programme is working — independent audits found VA still lacks basic outcome tracking for VET TEC.