Acting VA Secretary Sloan Gibson Monday publicly backed a push for the agency to protect any employees of the Department of Veterans Affairs who report wrongdoing among fellow workers. The announcement comes as the VA faces criticism for how it handled allegations of delays at some of its facilities. The U.S. Office of the Special Counsel is investigating alleged retaliation against 37 whistleblowers within the VA, including one case involving a worker was suspended after complaining about improper scheduling procedures. “I am deeply disappointed not only in the substantiation of allegations raised by whistleblowers, but also in the failures within VA to take whistleblower complaints seriously,” Gibson wrote in a prepared statement. “Accordingly, I have directed a comprehensive review of all aspects of the Office of Medical Inspector’s operation, to be completed within 14 days.”
IN-DEPTH
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