“The Department of Veterans Affairs’ Office of Accountability and Whistleblower Protection (OAWP) is at a crucial moment in its short-lived tenure.”
“Congress is considering new legislation that it hopes will make the office more effective after years of fielding complaints about its performance from VA whistleblowers, oversight groups and even OAWP employees themselves.”
“And the Senate is considering the president’s nominee to lead the VA accountability office, a job senators described as ‘one of the most difficult’ at the department.”
“Current OAWP leaders said they’ve made progress since 2019, when the VA inspector general said the office failed to protect whistleblowers and often misinterpreted its statutory mission.”
“The VA accountability office conducted roughly 350 investigations and issued 99 disciplinary recommendations since last April, Hansel Cordeiro, acting assistant secretary for the VA accountability office, told the House Veterans Affairs Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee.”
“That includes 40 recommendations for senior leader misconduct, 29 for supervisor whistleblower retaliation and 30 non-disciplinary recommendations and corrective actions for whistleblowers, VA officials told Congress.”
“That’s better than previous years, when OAWP recommended seven senior VA leaders for discipline during an 18-month period.”
“But the department implemented about half of OAWP’s recommendations last year, and whistleblower advocates and oversight groups say the VA accountability office hasn’t done nearly enough to earn the trust of employees…” Read the full article here.
Source: VA accountability office says it’s improved, but whistleblowers aren’t so sure — By Nicole Ogrysko, May 19, 2021. Federal News Network.
