AMVETS and Concerned Veterans for America Joint Statement on Manipulation of Phoenix OIG Report
Congress Must Ensure Transparency at the Department of Veterans Affairs
Washington, DC – Today, AMVETS (American Veterans) and Concerned Veterans for America (CVA) released the following statement following allegations of VA officials tampering with the Office of Inspector General’s report on the Phoenix VA Health System:
“The manipulation of the OIG’s recent report on the Phoenix VA Health System by VA officials, if verified, is inexcusable. Whistleblower and press reports have accused officials at the Phoenix VA of being responsible for providing inadequate care – and in many cases no care at all – to the veterans that they are supposed to serve. The IG investigation was initiated to get to the truth of these allegations and to hear that VA administrators may have manipulated its findings is outrageous. The tainted report sought to absolve the agency of responsibility for veterans who died waiting on secret wait lists at the hospital by setting an impossible causation standard for patient deaths. If this is due to deliberate tampering by VA officials, Congress must find out who ordered the changes and bring those people to justice.
“We urge Chairman Miller and the rest of the House Committee on Veterans Affairs to fully investigate the alleged cover-up, name names and ensure that the corruption at the Phoenix VA is brought to light. If the Department of Veterans Affairs is to ever return to its mission of putting veterans’ needs first, Congress must make sure that there is transparency and accountability in the oversight process. The VA cannot be allowed to continue to be more concerned with covering its tracks than providing for veterans. Veterans, their families and taxpayers alike should be told the truth about the agency’s involvement in the fate of those who died awaiting care. And let the chips fall where they may.”
Stewart Hickey
Executive Director, AMVETS
Pete Hegseth
Chief Executive Officer, Concerned Veterans for America
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