Government and Regulations
Friday, October 16, Under Secretary for Benefits Allison A. Hickey became the third top official to resign at the VA since the wait-time scandal broke in 2014. Ms. Hickey was responsible for overseeing the arm of the VA that determines the type of benefits that veterans receive and their eligibility, as well as the disability claims backlog project.
Related: VA Falling Behind on Backlog According to the OIG
Ms. Hickey’s resignation was announced by Secretary of Veterans Affairs Robert A. McDonald in a statement. The VA went on to say, “The Department has not yet made any determination regarding individual wrongdoing in connection with the (Inspector General) report, nor has the Department of Justice notified the Department of any determination regarding criminal wrongdoing. As a result, no adverse action has been taken against Under Secretary Hickey or any other VBA employee.”
Related: VHA Under Harsh Criticism From OIG, GAO
Apart from the scandal during the summer of 2014 that seemingly led to the resignations of VA’s then Under Secretary for Health Dr. Robert Petzel and then Secretary Eric K. Shinseki, a recent report in late September from the VA Office of Inspector General found that about 2 dozen senior executives were promoted or moved to different positions within the department, and many were awarded salary increases, including the payment of $300,000 to a senior executive in Ms. Hickey’s department during a time when pay increases of this kind were frozen.
Related: Michael Missal Nominated to Fill VA Inspector General Vacancy
A hearing was scheduled for October 21 by the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs on the inappropriate use of position and misuse of the relocation program and incentives. Ms. Hickey was scheduled to appear at the hearing as a witness.
