The HIRE Vets Medallion Program (HIRE Vets) is the federal award program recognizing employers for excellence in recruiting, hiring, and retaining U.S. military veterans; it is run by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Veterans’ Employment and Training Service (VETS).
Employers apply by size-specific application forms and must attest they meet numeric Gold/Platinum criteria (veteran hiring rates, veteran retention rates, veteran employee percentage) and show veteran integration supports (veteran resource group, leadership program, HR veterans initiative, pay differential, tuition assistance). Applications require completion of the official application (sample forms available) and payment of the program application fee; sample application PDFs list required items and guidance for evidence (see application instructions).
No. The HIRE Vets Medallion is an award/recognition only; it does not grant federal contracting preferences, direct financial benefits, or statutory legal advantages. The program is an employer recognition administered by DOL/VETS.
DOL requires employers to attest to meeting the criteria on their application and VETS may conduct reviews; applicants must provide the information requested in the application and supporting documentation. The program’s sample applications and guidance note DOL may contact employers for follow-up and the Department reserves the right to verify submissions (i.e., a program-level review/validation process rather than a formal audit tied to contracting).
The news release quotes "Secretary Chavez-DeRemer." That is the Secretary of Labor named in the DOL release; DOL’s Veterans’ Employment and Training Service oversees HIRE Vets and the Secretary speaks for the department on veterans employment policy. (If you need the Secretary’s biography, consult the DOL leadership page.)
Employers apply online at HIREVets.gov (register and submit the size‑appropriate application). Each award cycle has an announced application period and a publishing of the deadline (for example, the 2025 cycle opened Jan. 31, 2025 and the release referenced an April 30 application deadline); applications require payment of the application fee (fee varies by employer size — e.g., $120 small, $250 medium, $640 large for 2025).
The program defines veteran‑integration supports in categories used in the criteria: veteran organization/resource group, leadership programming (programs to develop/advance veteran employees), dedicated HR veterans initiative or HR staff, pay differential programs, and tuition-assistance programs. The hirevets.gov criteria tables and sample applications describe these elements and give examples of acceptable programs and documentation.