Nominee for VA secretary denies privatization push, advocates for increased staff terminations instead
New VA Secretary Pledges to Address Poor Performance and Support Workforce
In a recent Senate hearing, President Trump's pick to lead the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Doug Collins, outlined his plans for the agency. If passed, the new legislation would supersede any agreements the VA had negotiated with unions, aiming to reinstate and strengthen provisions of the 2017 firing law.
Collins, who pledged to continue to utilize and grow private sector options for veterans, also emphasized the importance of addressing poor performers within the VA. He stated that failing to address such issues would harm veterans' health and safety.
Despite this, Collins is bound by collective bargaining agreements that represent 80% of the VA workforce. He pledged to follow labor contracts and all other legal processes when seeking to freeze out department staff.
Collins defended the hiring freeze warning implemented by Trump, but declined to provide specific details about its impact on the VA. Criticisms about the hiring freeze warning were raised by Democrats during the hearing. Collins sought to assuage concerns by stating that the hiring freeze warning is a prudent step to assess the department's current resources and needs.
Collins also suggested that the nation's largest health care network for veterans would always exist. He plans to bring more employees into the office instead of allowing them to telework.
Sen. Richard Blumenthal, the top Democrat on the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee, questioned whether Collins would fight for an exemption in the hiring freeze warning for non-veterans benefits employees. Collins countered that Blumenthal was falsely assuming that a vacancy equated to an actual need for the department.
The VA Accountability and Whistleblower Protection Act was passed and signed into law to make it easier for the department to fire employees. However, Collins' predecessor, Denis McDonough, ended the implementation of disciplinary provisions included in the 2017 firing law.
Collins defended the department's mission and rejected any effort to privatize it during his confirmation hearing. He vowed to support responsible VA employees and stated that his goal is to get rid of malfeasant workers and allow the best workers to flourish.
The person who took on the role of VA Secretary in the Trump administration and applied for the leadership of the agency was Robert Wilkie. Collins, as the new leader, pledged to act as an advocate for the department's workforce. He is still examining the exact impact of the hiring freeze warning on the VA.
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