In a time when penalties are sometimes enforced as a result of social media backlash, are these penalties sufficient?

Sgt Spencer Sikder — Sat, 21 Nov 2015 12:06:46 -0500

http://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/article/VA-official-forced-from-Philly-post-under-cloud-6646914.php

Unfortunately in this case the "Douglas Factors" for which the federal government must apply when taking administrative action may have resulted in a less than desirable penalty. And that fault would be the supervisors of these two managers.

VA official demoted from Philly post appointed to key role in Houston

A high-ranking official at the Department of Veterans Affairs demoted after accusations she manipulated the agency's hiring system for personal gain has been reassigned to a top spot at the benefits office in Houston, department officials said Friday. In September, internal investigators at the VA said Diana Rubens, the Philadelphia director, inappropriately orchestrated her reassignment to the position there and then received almost $300,000...

Response by 1stSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 21 at 2015 3:28 PM

1stSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 21 Nov 2015 15:28:16 -0500

Ain't that some shit. Sometimes the government amazes me.

Response by MSgt Curtis Ellis made Nov 21 at 2015 9:34 PM

MSgt Curtis Ellis — Sat, 21 Nov 2015 21:34:42 -0500

Not even close to being sufficient since these positions are difficult to actually "punish" the way we would see it, or to remove them from the system completely... It sucks...

Response by SGT Shannon Wasielewski made Nov 22 at 2015 9:19 AM

SGT Shannon Wasielewski — Sun, 22 Nov 2015 09:19:43 -0500

The Secretary of the VA was given special authority by Congress to terminate Senior Executive Service (SES) employees for the expressed purpose of removing individuals in cases just like this.

I believe the Secretary is gun shy and did not want to pull the trigger so these two got a demotion and will retire with no impact to them since their retirement is based on high three, not last three.

The real damage is the signal this sends to the rank and file in the VA that have been busting ass to turn the agency around. Leadership has been preaching ownership and accountability but then this is how they demonstrate what they mean.