thE REsigNAtioN of VEtERANs AffAiRs sEcREtARy ERic shiNsEki

By Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson

Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson released the following statement after President Obama accepted the resignation of Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki: “Secretary Eric Shinseki is a military leader that has served our nation with honor and distinction. He has dedicated his life and career to the security of our country and the well-being of our troops. While I am encouraged to hear that the Administration is focused on addressing the systemic issues that plague the Veterans Affairs department, the resignation of one man will not fix all that ails the VA Health Care System.

I respect Secretary Shinseki’s decision to resign in an effort to avoid detracting from the reform that must take place within the VA system. Congress and the Administration must work collaboratively to eradicate the root causes of these systemic problems. We must rid the VA of its culture of retaliation against employees that report waste and misconduct. The VA’s leadership must create an environment where the concerns of employees, veterans, and their family members can be heard and addressed. I am not looking for a quick facelift in leadership; I want to see real transformation in the institutional culture of the VA. “