King-Backed Effort to Protect Watchdog for Veterans Passes Key Senate Hurdle

Statement

A bipartisan amendment backed by U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) that protects the mission of the VA Inspector General (IG) was successfully added to the 2019 VA funding bill. The IG is the independent watchdog tasked with investigating misconduct and waste of taxpayer dollars at the U.S. Department of Veterans' Affairs (VA), and this amendment would ensure it could investigate, audit, and conduct oversight of the nation's largest health care system without being hindered by political delays, non-cooperation and stall tactics by the VA. The amendment comes after VA leaders recently refused to comply with the IG's request for information, counter to requirements of the King-backed Department of Veterans Affairs Accountability and Whistleblower Protection Act of 2017, which was signed into law last year.

"In order to ensure that our veterans are receiving the care they have earned, the VA must be completely open and transparent," said Senator King. "One part of that transparency is independent oversight; this is why the IG exists, and why it must be allowed to conduct its work without interference or delay from VA leadership."

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