The U.S. Office of Special Counsel is investigating allegations of whistleblower reprisal from more than 30 Department of Veterans Affairs employees.
Some 37 VA employees in 19 states say they have faced retaliation for disclosing improper scheduling practices and other threats to patient care, according to a statement issued by the agency. It is unclear how many of those allegations sprung up in the months leading up to a Veterans Affairs health care scandal that prompted VA Secretary Eric Shinseki and a top lieutenant to resign.
The U.S. Office of Special Counsel said in a statement that it recently had to block disciplinary actions against three VA employees after they disclosed wrongdoing within the department. The department agreed to hold off on disciplinary action until the agency had investigated the reprisal claims.
• Maggie Ybarra can be reached at mybarra@washingtontimes.com.
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