White House promises action on VA inspector general. Why hasn't this been a bigger priority for the Administration?

2015-07-11T05:42:12-04:00

White House officials say they do plan to fill the vacant inspector general post in the Veterans Affairs Department, promising that the Obama administration is committed to strong oversight of every federal agency.

The VA's watchdog office has been without a permanent leader for more than 18 months, after former Inspector General George Opfer retired from the job. Last month, Acting Inspector General Richard Griffin retired after 43 years of federal service.

That move promoted Assistant Inspector for Audits Linda Halliday to deputy inspector general and the default head of the office. Just days before Griffin's retirement, a group of senators petitioned Obama for a permanent replacement, citing the need for management stability and strong leadership in the office.

Administration officials would not offer a public timeline for when a new inspector general would be nominated, but said work is underway.

"This administration has been committed to strong Inspectors General," a White House statement read. "The administration also believes strongly in transparency and accountability in government, and inspectors general play a critical role in furthering those objectives."

Officials offered no reasons for the lengthy delay in filling the post.

Griffin and the VA inspector general office have come under fire in recent months from critics who say there is too close a relationship between IG investigators and VA officials.

They've also been criticized over not doing enough to prevent the 2014 patient wait time scandals, as well as failing to uncover similar systemic problems that have made headlines in recent months.

But in his departure announcement, Griffin praised his office's work in recent years, citing nearly 2,000 reports since 2009 that have lead to more than 11,000 punitive actions against individuals and $22.5 billion in "monetary impact" for the department.

Once selected by Obama, the new inspector general nominee would need Senate confirmation before assuming the role. If a candidate is not selected before Congress leaves for its planned August recess, that would mean at least several more months of waiting for a permanent replacement.

http://www.militarytimes.com/story/veterans/2015/07/10/va-ig-white-house/29958679/

White House promises action on VA inspector general

The top watchdog post for the Department of Veterans Affairs has been vacant for more than 18 months now.

Response by PO1 John Miller made Jul 11 at 2015 5:43 AM

2015-07-11T05:43:55-04:00

Because the administration is just paying lip service! They really don't give a damn about veterans! Just my humble opinion of course.

Response by Cpl Christopher Bishop made Jul 11 at 2015 6:09 AM

2015-07-11T06:09:05-04:00

Because funding and training ISIS/ISIL is his priority...along with decreasing military strength...?

Response by Cpl Chris Rice made Jul 11 at 2015 6:35 AM

2015-07-11T06:35:37-04:00

I guess my question would be what does providing a permanent replacement get for the office of the Inspector General, and the Department of Veterans Affairs. If you consider it it's not like the office shutdown or is not functioning at all, they were able to keep functioning with somebody who is experienced and capable of running that department as they were working just under that office, and they were able to do it without having a big political fight over it. Believe it or not most of these government agencies do have a line of succession just like in the event that a president loses his life, or resigns from his office we all run around screaming who the next president is going to be we know the line of succession. Unfortunately it may even be better for the office of the Inspector General simply because right now we have an experienced bureaucrat who knows the agency has experience with the agency, while in the event that they found a permanent replacement it would be political appointment, and at best the candidate the selected regardless of the qualifications would also serve the purpose of placing an exclaimation point the president's argument.

I'm not saying that this is a totally good thing, and I'm not saying all the day should not have already handled this. All I'm saying is that is not necessarily a crisis, and is not excuse the final funds to a terrorist group halfway across the world as other posters have mentioned

Response by LTC John Shaw made Jul 11 at 2015 2:28 PM

2015-07-11T14:28:51-04:00

The leaders need to be picked for competence not political patronage.
Look at the most recent OPM resignation, she was not a prior public servant but Obama supporter in something way over her head.
Government does a poor job of holding itself accountable, IG positions need to be filled with no break and a bench of IG's from other agencies to assist.

Response by GySgt Wayne A. Ekblad made Jul 13 at 2015 11:21 AM

2015-07-13T11:21:04-04:00

VA supervisor took $1.2 million in kickbacks; another employee stole at least 150 gravestones ...

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/federal-eye/wp/2015/07/13/va-supervisor-took-1-2-million-in-kickbacks-another-employee-stole-at-least-150-gravestones-prosecutors-said/?tid=hpModule_308f7142-9199-11e2-bdea-e32ad90da239&hpid=z13

VA supervisor took $1.2 million in kickbacks; worker at veterans cemetery stole at least 150...

A former supervisor admitted to taking $1.2 million in kickbacks from a contractor. Another employee was caught stealing gravestones from a VA cemetery to use as flooring in his garage

Response by SGM Steve Wettstein made Jul 13 at 2015 11:23 AM

2015-07-13T11:23:48-04:00

IMO lack of giving a shit about the military/veterans.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Jul 13 at 2015 5:23 PM

2015-07-13T17:23:51-04:00

The government does not know how pervasive corruption is in the VA, nor do they know how to fix it.