Issa: Biden VA Protecting Failing Employees at the Expense of America’s Veterans

WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Darrell Issa (CA-48) and Congressman Mike Bost (IL-12), Chairman of the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, sent a letter to the Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Denis McDonough to emphasize Congress’ intent to allow swift removal of VA employees that fail in their job assignments. The letter follows a recent Merit System Protection Board action to gut Congressional reforms specifically designed to allow the removal non-performing VA employees. Today, Congressman Issa and Chairman Bost made the following statements:
 
“After dozens of veterans died waiting for care and secret lists harmed veteran health, Congress passed reforms that empowered the VA to dismiss its worst employees and hold others accountable when they could not or would not complete their duties,” said Rep. Issa. “The Biden Administration, however, has undone these accountability measures and instead fights for a return to the unthinkable old system that allowed failing bureaucrats to remain on the job. Chairman Bost and I will ensure that the laws enacted by Congress to protect the nation’s veterans won’t be ignored and accountability will be restored.”
 
Issa specifically mentioned that the VA’s refusal to dismiss failing employees is a fundamental failing of its core obligations to veterans. He added that the department is ignoring clear federal law and Congressional intent.
 
“When the President signed the bipartisan VA Accountability and Whistleblower Protection Act in 2017, it gave VA the authority to remove employees for poor performance or misconduct to ensure veterans receive the best services. This law applies to most VA employees, including hybrid ones,” said Chairman Bost. “However, the MSPB’s recent decision to prohibit VA from firing hybrid employees is in clear violation of the law and reduces accountability at the Department. We need answers. The Secretary has a responsibility to guarantee that the VA workforce is top notch and if they’re not, he needs the tools to fix it. Right now, the MSPB’s decision is standing in the way of that.”
 
“Once again the Merit System Protection Board (MSPB) has clearly ignored the letter and spirit of the Department of Veterans Affairs Accountability and Whistleblower Protection Act of 2017 and has instead sided with unaccountable VA bureaucrats over veterans,” said Darin Selnick, Senior Advisor for Concerned Veterans of America. “This hurts veterans, their faith in VA, and good VA employees who are stuck working with co-workers who deserve to be fired due to their poor performance and malfeasance. Congress should investigate this pattern of MSPB obstruction and decide if the MSPB itself needs reform legislation so that in the future it will carry out the will of Congress.”
 
The full text of the letter can be viewed HERE.

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Darrell Issa is the Representative of California’s 48th Congressional District. The District encompasses the central and eastern parts of San Diego County and a portion of Riverside County, including the communities of Fallbrook, Valley Center, Ramona, Escondido, Santee, Lakeside, Poway, Temecula, Murrieta, and the mountain and desert areas of the San Diego-Imperial County line. Issa served as the Chairman of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform from 2011-2015.