Ayotte: Unbelievable that VA Still Lacks a Permanent Inspector General
Press Release
At a Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee hearing today, U.S. Senator Kelly Ayotte said it is unacceptable that the administration has failed to nominate a permanent Inspector General (IG) at the Department of Veterans Affairs since the position became vacant in December 2013 - particularly in light of last year's waitlist scandal, which exposed serious mismanagement problems at the VA that led to some veterans becoming more ill and even dying when they were not able to receive timely care. The IG position at the VA has been vacant for a total of 519 days.
The Council of Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency (CIGIE) is responsible for submitting recommendations of individuals for consideration by the president when an IG vacancy occurs, and has made recommendations to the administration for individuals to serve as VA IG. But the president has not yet made a nomination to fill this crucial post. Chairman Ron Johnson (R-WI) invited a representative of the Office of Presidential Personnel in the Executive Office of the President to testify at today's hearing, but the White House declined to send a representative.
"We're talking about veterans who are suffering, veterans who have died...We spent a lot of time on the floor last summer trying to come up with a reform bill, and now we're trying to hold the VA accountable to actually give veterans choice..." Ayotte said.
"Our veterans deserve action on this immediately by the President of the United States. I just cannot believe it...CIGIE has submitted recommendations of individuals who could serve in this position...So it's in the president's lap right now."
Last Congress, Ayotte, along with Senators John Boozman (R-AR) and Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), introduced the VACANT Inspectors General Act, which would require the nomination of an individual to each IG position within 210 days of a vacancy, or the authority to fill the job would be transferred to Congress.
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