The Office of Special Counsel has urged the White House to assure that more disciplinary actions are taken against management officials of the VA who have retaliated against whistleblowers, saying that it’s time to send a message that employees who make disclosures will be protected, not punished.
The OSC is handling a surge of complaints from VA employees that they suffered reprisal for coming forward with information about problems with patient care. That has been the subject of a series of congressional hearings and bills aimed at those responsible for retaliation.
OSC noted that it has obtained relief for a number of whistleblowers through settlements with the department but “the next and critical step is to hold officials accountable after lapses in care have been identified. Whistleblower disclosures can play a pivotal role in promoting accountability at the VA. Over the last two years, the VA has taken or proposed disciplinary actions against 40 officials who engaged in misconduct that whistleblowers identified. This is substantial progress.
“Nevertheless, disciplinary action is being inconsistently imposed. The failure to take appropriate discipline, when presented with clear evidence of misconduct, can undermine accountability, impede progress, and discourage whistleblowers from coming forward,” it said.
