Golden demands answers, accountability from VA over nearly $11 million misspent on executive bonuses

WASHINGTON — Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02) today sent a letter from a bipartisan group of representatives to Dennis McDonough, Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs, seeking answers and action following a recent VA Inspector General report that showed the department improperly awarded nearly $11 million in bonuses to senior officials at its central office. 

The letter was signed by Golden and Reps. Don Bacon (NE-02), Abigail Spanberger (VA-07), Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (WA-03), Mary Peltola (AK-AL), and Mike Thompson (CA-04). 

The VA Inspector General found in September that the agency had used $10.8 million in critical skill incentive (CSI) payments — funds appropriated by Congress to help recruit and retain employees with in-demand skills that are in short supply — to fund bonuses ranging from $39,000 to more than $100,000 to 182 senior executives in the central office. 

“While we appreciate that upon learning of these payments in September you demanded the executives reimburse the VA, eight months have passed, and the money is still being recouped,” the members wrote in the letter. “... The VA has an obligation to the veterans and families they serve to claw back the millions of dollars that were improperly distributed, reallocate the funds to their original purpose, and discipline the senior executives who do not comply. 

“We will ensure these egregious missteps cannot happen again, and the VA continues to provide veterans and their families with the highest level of quality and access to care.”

The members asked the Secretary whether the VA is working with the Office of the Inspector General to follow its recommendations, what steps the agency is taking to recoup the bonuses, how it will hold senior officials who approved the bonuses accountable, and how it will protect funds from being misused in the future. 

You can see the full letter here. 

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