Ayotte, Bipartisan Group of Senators Call on President Obama to Take Action on VA Inspector General

Press Release

U.S. Senator Kelly Ayotte (R-NH) today signed a letter to President Barack Obama urging him to nominate an Inspector General (IG) at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) as soon as possible to help rebuild trust and accountability at the agency. The letter was led by Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and signed by a bipartisan group of senators. At a hearing earlier this month, Ayotte said it was unacceptable that the administration has failed to nominate a permanent IG at the VA since the position became vacant in December 2013.

"It is imperative that you nominate a permanent IG for the VA to provide stable leadership and oversight of the agency. Over the past two years, the VA has faced well-documented challenges, including the failure to provide timely health care nationwide. A permanent IG would help to address these failures and would play a critical role in auditing and evaluating VA programs, conducting health care inspections and investigating allegations of serious violations of policies and procedures by high-ranking members of the Department," the Senators wrote.

They continued, "Providing adequate programs and services for our nation's veterans is a one of our greatest responsibilities. We hope that you will ensure consistent management and accountability at VA by nominating a permanent IG as soon as possible."

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.

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.