Veterans Affairs first to make public disciplinary action on wrong-doers

In a press release today, U.S. Secretary of Veterans Affairs David J. Shulkin announced one more step the #VA is taking to open up transparency and accountability. A public list will now be available on the new Office Of Accountability and Whistleblower Protection (OAWP) on action taken on employees that have been reported and found guilty of wrong-doing. The list will be updated on a weekly basis, and although it will not show the name of the employee, it will show the persons position, VA region or administration and type of disciplinary action taken. The list will include all actions taken since January 20, 2017, when the new administration took office. The newly formed office maintains a toll-free telephone number to receive anonymous whistle-blower disclosures.

VA Secretary Shulkin makes this announcement two weeks after President Trump signed into law S.1094, Department of Veterans Affairs Accountability and #Whistleblower Protection Act of 2017 that was introduced and sponsored by Sen. Marco Rubio. The law made President Trumps April executive order, to create a office within the VA that investigates and holds wrong-doers accountable for their action and protection whistle-blowers, permanent. Today's action shows Veterans and the public that accountability will be fully enforced and investigations will be completed on any known wrong-doing; including, but not limited to, gross waste of funds, abuse of authority, retaliation and mismanagement within the Veteran Affairs departments. Veteran Affairs is the first federal agency to offer this type of information to the public.

VA Secretary Shulkin also announced that all monetary settlements with an employee that is over the amount of $5,000 must have a personal approval of a senior official; such as the Under Secretary, Assistant Secretary or a senior-level official within the department that the dispute was first reported. Because taxpayers deserve to know that VA will engage in good faith settlement negotiations, Secretary Shulkin stated, “Where required by third parties, VA will look to settle with employees only when they clearly have been wronged or when settlement is otherwise in Veterans’ and taxpayers’ best interests, and not as a matter of ordinary business.”

Holding employees accountable, from top to bottom, will expand higher workplace standards throughout the departments. It will also help improve policies, make clear the priorities and deliver top-notch services in all areas. After years of needed reforms, VA Secretary Shulkin is moving as quickly as possible to deliver changes that produce positive outcomes and restores trust in the Veteran Administration.