WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), and 10 Republican colleagues demanded the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) repay nearly $11 million in unjustified bonuses that were distributed to senior executives within the VA and called for the immediate dismissal of the responsible officials.
“The egregious mishandling of Critical Skill Incentives (CSIs) and the subsequent lack of accountability demand immediate and decisive action to restore integrity and trust within the VA. This report has brought to light the improper allocation of CSIs to senior executives within the VA. It has revealed a consistent disregard for statutory requirements and VA policies, resulting in the unjustified distribution of bonuses to executives,” wrote the senators.
“This blatant misuse of taxpayer funds is not just a breach of public trust but also a disservice to the courageous men and women who have selflessly served our nation. Furthermore, the OIG report outlines systemic failures in internal controls and transparency within the VA. It underscores the need for urgent reforms to strengthen governance processes and ensure accountability for decision-making regarding financial management practices,” continued the senators.
“Congress worked in good faith with the Department to provide for the necessary resources to recruit and retain employees with high-demand skills or skills that are in short supply. The brazen entitlement by senior executives appointed by this Administration shows a clear lack of judgement and selfishness and these individuals must be held accountable,” concluded the senators.
Cassidy and Blackburn were joined by U.S. Senators Tommy Tuberville (R-AL), Dan Sullivan (R-AK), Rick Scott (R-FL), Marco Rubio (R-FL), Steve Daines (R-MT), Bill Hagerty (R-TN), Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), Ted Cruz (R-TX), Pete Ricketts (R-NE), and Joni Ernst (R-IA) in signing the letter.
Read the full letter here or below:
Dear Secretary McDonough,
We are deeply concerned about mismanagement and accountability failures within the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), highlighted in a recent report by the VA Office of Inspector General (OIG). The egregious mishandling of Critical Skill Incentives (CSIs) and the subsequent lack of accountability demand immediate and decisive action to restore integrity and trust within the VA.
This report has brought to light the improper allocation of CSIs to senior executives within the VA. It has revealed a consistent disregard for statutory requirements and VA policies, resulting in the unjustified distribution of bonuses to executives. This blatant misuse of taxpayer funds is not just a breach of public trust but also a disservice to the courageous men and women who have selflessly served our nation.
Furthermore, the OIG report outlines systemic failures in internal controls and transparency within the VA. It underscores the need for urgent reforms to strengthen governance processes and ensure accountability for decision-making regarding financial management practices.
In light of these revelations, we demand you take the following actions:
- Immediate Dismissal of Responsible Officials: Hold accountable the Deputy Secretary of Veterans Affairs, the Under Secretary of Health, the Under Secretary of Benefits, and any other executives implicated in the mismanagement of CSIs. Their failure to uphold statutory requirements and VA policies warrants their immediate dismissal from their positions of authority.
- Recoupment of Unjustified Bonuses: Take swift action to recoup CSIs improperly awarded to executives who do not meet the criteria for high-demand skills. Executives who have failed to repay these unjustified bonuses must be held accountable through appropriate disciplinary measures.
It is imperative that the VA demonstrate its commitment to upholding the highest standards of integrity and accountability in serving the needs of our nation’s veterans. Failure to take decisive action in response to these revelations will undermine public confidence in the VA and the trust of those who have sacrificed so much for our country. Congress passed the PACT Act to expand access to VA health care and benefits for millions of veterans exposed to toxic substances, not pad the pockets of career bureaucrats, particularly during a time when a majority of them were working remotely. Congress worked in good faith with the Department to provide for the necessary resources to recruit and retain employees with high-demand skills or skills that are in short supply. The brazen entitlement by senior executives appointed by this Administration shows a clear lack of judgement and selfishness and these individuals must be held accountable.
We trust that you will take swift and decisive action to address these critical issues and restore confidence in the integrity of the VA.
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