During the 2016 presidential campaign, Donald Trump vowed to overhaul the toxic Department of Veterans Affairs, in part due to shocking reports that nearly one-third of veterans who applied for health care services through the VA died before having their enrollment accepted.
Under President Obama, the Veterans Affairs inspector general reported that officials throughout the VA system falsified medical records in an attempt to mask wait times for patients – a tactic that led to the unnecessary deaths of dozens of veterans.
“The veterans of our country, our finest people, have been treated horribly by our government and it’s ‘all talk and no action’ politicians,” Trump charged.
He vowed to reform the VA, and upon taking office announced a 10-point plan to provide “better access to care of the veteran’s choice, including access to private care, and accountability of agency employees.”
The President followed up on that plan, signing an Executive Order that created an office to identify incompetent and dangerous VA employees who need to be fired.
That order is already bearing results, with reports indicating hundreds of officials at the VA have been fired for misconduct or incompetence.
Via CBS News:
The Department of Veterans Affairs announced today that more than 500 officials have been fired for misconduct since President Trump took office earlier this year, according to data posted online.
In an effort for more transparency and accountability within the VA, Secretary of Veterans Affairs David J. Shulkin announced that a public list of employee “accountability actions” will be posted online and updated weekly.
The list outlines a total of 747 disciplinary actions including 526 employees who were fired since January 20.
The Veterans of Foreign Wars welcomed the news, saying they were hopeful Trump’s efforts to overhaul the department “will continue to heal the VA, which will definitely help restore the faith of veterans in their VA.”
Over 500 Veterans Affairs workers who were misbehaving have been fired since Trump took office. Thank God there’s a standard being set.
— Jack Murphy (@RealJack) July 9, 2017
Anyone who thinks President Trump is not “Draining the Swamp” better take a look at this! Hundreds fired at VA.https://t.co/XURsFdGBr7
— BigBlue (@BigBluetn65) July 9, 2017
A standard is being set, and the President is most definitely draining the swamp at the VA.
No veteran should ever have to wait for care. It is a national disgrace that those who risked their lives protecting our nation died while waiting to see a doctor at a VA facility.
Is Trump doing enough to help veterans who were neglected under the previous administration? Share your thoughts below!
