Arlington, VA – Today President Trump signed an executive order establishing a new Office of Accountability and Whistleblower Protection within the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Concerned Veterans for America (CVA) joined President Trump and Secretary Shulkin at the signing.
The office is designed to “identify barriers” that are preventing Secretary Shulkin from moving bad VA employees out of the department “expeditiously.” The office will give Secretary Shulkin increased oversight over employees who engage in misconduct.
CVA Executive Director Mark Lucas issued the following statement:
“President Trump is doing everything in his power to hold bad VA employees accountable, and it’s time for Congress to follow suit. To truly fix the toxic VA culture, bad employees must know that there will be swift consequences for their actions. The VA Accountability First Act of 2017 passed the House months ago with bipartisan support and there is absolutely nothing stopping the Senate from moving on it immediately. The longer the Senate waits, the longer veterans will suffer.”
CVA supports the VA Accountability First Act of 2017, which would make it easier to fire bad VA employees by shortening the termination process and protecting whistleblowers who speak up about wrongdoings. The bill passed the House with bipartisan support earlier this year, and sits in the Senate. Secretary Shulkin himself has stated that the Senate should move on the VA Accountability First Act of 2017.
Today Secretary Shulkin also announced a task for for waste, fraud, and abuse to ensure that the department is investigating misuses of taxpayer dollars at the VA.
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