Sen. Richard Burr (R-N.C.) said on Wednesday that the lack of accountability and management within the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) that led to secret wait lists for care was “reprehensible.”
Burr, the ranking member of the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, delivered his remarks during a committee hearing on the state of VA healthcare, according to a press release.
“VA has begun to take the necessary steps to address the systemic problems and the ‘corrosive culture’ that has been identified and substantiated by several independent sources,” Burr said. “However, these changes will not happen overnight and this committee must provide the critical oversight to ensure these changes occur and are effective.”
Burr said ongoing evaluations by the VA, the Office of Special Counsel and the VA Inspector General are critical to regain the trust of veterans, employees and stakeholders.
“I want to be crystal clear; the culture that has developed at VA and the lack of management and accountability is simply reprehensible,” Burr said. “And it will no longer be tolerated. (VA Acting Secretary Sloan Gibson has) taken several actionable steps in the last month and a half. I commend the work (he has) done; however, what has happened over the course of years is a horrendous blemish on VA’s reputation. And much more work will be needed to repair the damage.”
Burr said the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs has a lot of work to do in ensuring that VA issues have been properly identified and effectively addressed.