GAO urges VA to adopt evaluation plan for new Partial Claim Program

The Government Accountability Office reports that the VA Partial Claim Program became effective on June 15, 2026 and is authorized for five years, ending July 30, 2030. Mortgage servicers must complete implementation by November 28, 2026. The program, created under the VA Home Loan Program Reform Act of July 2025, reimburses servicers for missed payments and certain fees, allowing borrowers to become current; the borrower repays the amount without interest when the loan is sold, refinanced, paid off, or reaches maturity.

VA has taken steps to roll out the program, including policy development, stakeholder feedback, training, oversight policies, and data-system modifications. VA officials say they will begin analyzing program trends and outcomes in December 2027. However, GAO found that VA has only a high-level assessment approach and lacks a comprehensive plan to isolate the program's effects, identify key data, or determine whether design changes would improve outcomes.

GAO evaluated VA's efforts against Office of Management and Budget program evaluation standards and concluded that early planning is critical because the program's reauthorization depends on credible evaluation results. Without a detailed plan, VA and Congress will not have timely information to decide on extending the program or to reduce costs to taxpayers.

GAO recommends that the Secretary of Veterans Affairs expeditiously develop a comprehensive evaluation plan (Recommendation 1). The plan should specify methods to isolate the Partial Claim Program from other factors, the data to be collected, and how the information will be used to assess effectiveness and guide potential program adjustments.

VA has not provided comments on the report. GAO will update the record when the agency's response is confirmed.