A recent report from a right-leaning research group has brought to light some concerning findings regarding the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) under the Biden administration. According to the report, the VA back paid over $130 million to 1,700 individuals who were fired under a Trump-era law that aimed to increase accountability for federal employees.
The investigation conducted by the America First Policy Institute revealed that more than 100 terminated employees at the VA were reinstated, despite being fired for various reasons such as negligence and sleeping on the job. Shockingly, some of the dismissals did not even have specific offenses listed in the documents reviewed by Fox News Digital.
The report also highlighted the fact that the VA failed to negotiate with its public employee union following the implementation of the 2017 law, leading to arbitration and potential requirements to rehire all terminated employees, including those who were fired for serious misconduct like patient abuse or harassment. However, a settlement was eventually reached in 2023, with only 106 out of the 1,700 employees offered financial compensation being reinstated.
Former Trump VA Secretary Robert Wilkie expressed disappointment in the current administration’s handling of the situation, stating that those who mistreated American veterans should not be allowed to return to the VA, let alone be reinstated. Wilkie emphasized the need for stronger accountability measures and criticized the Biden-Harris administration for surrendering to the government employee union.
In response to these allegations, a spokesperson for the VA defended the agency’s actions, stating that no employees previously fired for serious offenses like patient abuse have been reinstated. The spokesperson reassured the public that the VA remains committed to holding employees accountable for any misconduct and ensuring that bad actors cannot return to work.
While the 2017 law signed by Trump aimed to improve accountability and whistleblower protection within the VA, it faced legal challenges and criticisms from the public employee union AFGE. Some of the reinstated employees were originally terminated for violations such as sleeping on the job and unauthorized access to medical records, as revealed in documents obtained through Freedom of Information Act requests.
Overall, the findings of the report raise important questions about the VA’s handling of employee accountability and the protection of veterans’ interests. The controversy surrounding the back pay and reinstatement of fired employees underscores the ongoing challenges faced by the agency in maintaining transparency and upholding high standards of performance and conduct.