Did you know the VA botched demotions of execs, now have to rescind demotions and start the punishment/appeals process over again? smdh...

MSgt Curtis Ellis — Sat, 05 Dec 2015 16:13:15 -0500

smdh... here we go again....

WASHINGTON -- The Department of Veterans Affairs refueled outrage Thursday over its light handling of two corrupt senior executives when the agency acknowledged that it had botched its disciplinary actions against the two officials, forcing the VA to rescind their demotions and start the punishment and appeals process again.
The agency announced last month that it was demoting and transferring Diana Rubens and Kimberly Graves after an investigation determined that both women had manipulated the hiring system to carve out their jobs of choice and collect huge relocation bonuses meant to entice employees to take hard-to-fill jobs.
Rubens and Graves received more than $400,000 in total relocation bonuses.
Lawmakers, veterans advocates and other watchdog groups lambasted the agency for not firing the women and for not recouping the money they received through their scheming.
On Thursday, the VA issued a statement saying that during the processing of the demotions, an administrative error had occurred and one of the five binders of evidence had inadvertently been omitted from paperwork provided to the two women.
"Not only is it impossible to fire employees at the VA, but they cannot even effectively demote employees for just cause," Sen. Johnny Isakson, R-Ga., who chairs the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee, said in a statement.
"This highlights yet again the desperate need for accountability reform at the VA," he said, adding that the agency "has so far either been incapable of or unwilling to adequately hold bad actors appropriately accountable."
The department had to rescind and reissue the proposed demotions to allow the women an opportunity to respond to the omitted evidence, the VA statement said, adding to the cascade of dismay over the VA's handling of the case.
"It seems VA's incompetence knows no bounds," said Rep. Jeff Miller, R- Fla., who chairs the House Committee on Veterans Affairs. "By now, it's clear to nearly every objective observer that VA's top officials don't know how to properly discipline employees. What remains unclear, however, is whether they are even interested in doing so."
The VA Inspector General's office issued a report in September finding that Rubens and Graves had "inappropriately used their positions of authority for personal and financial benefit" by arranging the transfer of subordinates whose jobs they wanted and then volunteering for the vacancies.
Rubens became director of Veterans Benefits Administration's Philadelphia and Wilmington VA regional offices and received $274,019.12 for relocation expenses. Graves became director of the VBA's St. Paul (Minn.) regional office, with relocation pay of $129,467.56. The program has been suspended.
Both women maintained their senior executive salaries after transferring to these less demanding jobs. Their predecessors also received relocation costs totaling $60,000, the report found.
The report had recommended that the VA deputy secretary consult with the VA's Office of General Counsel to determine whether Rubens and Graves should have to repay their relocation expenses. Miller said last week that he'd been informed that the VA's top lawyer determined the agency did not have the legal authority to recoup the money even after acknowledging that the women had abused their offices.
On Monday, Miller introduced a bill that would allow the VA secretary to recoup relocation expenses paid to any VA employee at any time if the secretary deems it necessary, and would require that any appeal by that employee be decided by a third-party federal entity.
The bill was introduced in direct response to the decision on Rubens and Graves. Miller said that the only way the VA could reform itself into an organization worthy of its veterans was to not tolerate corruption within its ranks.
After their demotions were announced Nov. 20, Graves and Rubens were reassigned. Both women appealed their demotions and their transfers were stayed pending the outcome. It was during the review of the appeals that VA counsel discovered the administrative error.
The department is reinitiating the demotions, the VA statement said. Once that paperwork is in, Graves and Rubens will have five business days to respond to the additional evidence before a decision is made on their demotions. If the demotions stand, the women can reinitiate their appeals, the VA said.
Miller said the VA is showing no real signs of reform, even in the wake of serious scandal in which facilities had maintained secret wait lists for doctor appointments, leaving veterans languishing for months and sometimes years without care.
This latest error by the VA further detracts from the agency's credibility, he said. "This is an absolutely egregious mistake, and right now it's incumbent upon VA leaders to do two things: explain to taxpayers, veterans and Congress who will be held accountable for this failure and outline its plan for finally getting serious about accountability at the department."

http://www.military.com/daily-news/2015/12/04/va-botches-demotions-execs-who-misused-authority-personal-gain.html?ESRC=todayinmil.sm

VA Botches Demotions of Execs Who Misused Authority for Personal Gain

The Department of Veterans Affairs refueled outrage Thursday over its light handling of two corrupt senior executives when the agency acknowledged that it had botched its disciplinary actions against the two officials, forcing the VA to rescind their demotions and start the punishment and appeals process again.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Dec 5 at 2015 5:42 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Sat, 05 Dec 2015 17:42:33 -0500

The Fox is accountable for the hens.

Response by SrA David Steyer made Dec 5 at 2015 8:20 PM

SrA David Steyer — Sat, 05 Dec 2015 20:20:07 -0500

All the while, moral people who want to work for them can't get a damn job with them....

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 6 at 2015 12:34 AM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 06 Dec 2015 00:34:17 -0500

So, let's get a tally. They work for the VA. They screw the pooch while working for the VA. VA punishes/demotes them. VA screws up demotions. VA has to start over. Were these employees also patients? Because isn't this par for the course when it comes to the VA.

Response by Maj Mike Sciales made Dec 6 at 2015 7:02 AM

Maj Mike Sciales — Sun, 06 Dec 2015 07:02:01 -0500

They need lawyers in admin/executive positions. Lawyers know how to build a case. I helped get rid of people everybody said could never get fired. It can be done, but it's a process most folks don't get.

Response by SrA David Steyer made Dec 6 at 2015 2:06 PM

SrA David Steyer — Sun, 06 Dec 2015 14:06:04 -0500

But in all seriousness, why not fire them? Force them in to retirement?

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Dec 6 at 2015 2:24 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Sun, 06 Dec 2015 14:24:02 -0500

See that face? It shows shame to the point I got caught doing something wrong, but you can't do anything to me. I will bet $100 that the folks who were innocently fired got no help from IG, Personnel, CoS, EEO, and the Ivory Tower. The VA has no shortage of employees who will hurt other employees, and sink their families for personal gain.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Dec 6 at 2015 3:47 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Sun, 06 Dec 2015 15:47:53 -0500

Screw demotions, they should be fired for their offenses.

Response by MSG Brad Sand made Dec 6 at 2015 6:08 PM

MSG Brad Sand — Sun, 06 Dec 2015 18:08:22 -0500

'Botched' implies it was a mistake and part of their modus operandi. I think they 'botched' these demotions thinking everything would be fine when the attention blew over and everyone could return to failing our Veterans like normal.

Response by PO3 Brad Phlipot made Dec 6 at 2015 8:52 PM

PO3 Brad Phlipot — Sun, 06 Dec 2015 20:52:03 -0500

When is enough enough? People are dying and these as well as others are getting filthy rich. How bad do you have to be as a federal employee before you are locked up? This shit has been going on for years with the IRS, VA, State Dept, Clinton?? When will there be JUSTICE? Not one of us here could get away with this kind of shit and not go to jail. The peoples government needs a serious ass overhaul, when a baby has a shitty diaper you change it, should be the same with our government because damn it smells pretty bad.