Shaheen Joins Call for VA Secretary Shinseki to Resign

U.S. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) issued a statement Wednesday night calling on Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki to resign.

Shaheen joins a growing audience demanding accountability and change at the VA.

Shaheen said:

"I have tremendous respect for General Shinseki and honor his service to this nation. He has worked with me to bring new veterans’ health care services to New Hampshire and has made important progress in reducing the claims backlog. However, it has become clear that after six years as head of the Department of Veterans Affairs, General Shinseki has been unable to solve other fundamental problems that plague the agency. Today, after reading the Inspector General’s interim report, I am calling for General Shinseki's resignation. It's time for a forceful new leader to address the outrageous problems at the VA."

Her statement came hours after New Hampshire Republicans urged Shaheen to demand Shinseki's resignation. Jim Coburn, a veteran and a a local officer of the Republican State Committee, called for bipartisan action.
Numerous candidates for office, including Scott Brown on May 7, have previously called on Shinseki to step aside. 
Jim Rubens, a Republican running for Senate, said, "Veterans who have been waiting for care must immediately be given vouchers to receive treatment at the hospital or clinic of their choice. When I go to Washington, I will raise the rafters and demanding solutions so this will never, ever, happen again."

U.S. Rep. Annie Kuster, D-NH, also issued a statement May 28 condemning the "systemic mismanagement" cited in the interim report.

Kuster said: "Our veterans made extreme personal sacrifices to serve and protect our great nation, and no veteran should ever have trouble accessing high quality health care services. As a Member of the U.S. House Veterans’ Affairs Committee, I’m shocked and appalled by a new Office of the Inspector General’s (IG) report detailing mass, systemic mismanagement of wait times at the VA. This report, coupled with the VA’s gross failure to comply with the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee investigation into this matter, leads me to believe it is time for new leadership at the VA. Tonight I called on VA Secretary Eric Shinseki to tender his resignation, so a new Acting Secretary can take his place and work to immediately provide care for any veteran who is still waiting for health services."
U.S. Rep. Carol Shea-Porter, a Democrat representing New Hampshire's 1st District, issued this statement May 28:

"General Shinseki is a great man and a war hero, and I am grateful for his long service to our country and to our veterans. However, after seeing the report released today, I believe Secretary Shinseki should step down. We need new management at the VA to lean hard on wrongdoers and clean house wherever necessary. Most of our VA employees across the country care deeply about the men and women they serve and work hard, but there is an institutional dysfunction that requires a fresh look by new people."

(This post was updated May 29 to include statements released May 28 by Congresswoman Shea-Porter.)

"The Inspector General's preliminary findings released this afternoon are horrendous and underscore the need for immediate action. We need to not only implement reforms, but there must be accountability for those who have failed the thousands of brave men and women who have served our country. I am cosponsoring the VA Management Accountability Act, which is identical to legislation I supported last week in the Senate Appropriations Committee, because it will help hold those responsible for the misconduct at the VA accountable for their actions."

"But we cannot stop there. Moving forward I hope we can work together to address the ongoing problems at the VA and ultimately do what’s best for our veterans. Senator Sanders has comprehensive legislation that will not only implement stronger reforms at the VA but also invest in additional priorities – such as supporting expanded access to health care – that we should consider immediately on behalf of all who have served."