The abuse at the Veterans Administration—at the expense of U.S. veterans and taxpayers—knows no bounds. Once again, VA officials have demonstrated how sweet it is to be a government employee.
Filling in on The Glenn Beck Program Wednesday, Mike Broomhead gave the back story on two VA bosses that used their positions to block subordinates from taking jobs. The so-called “sweetheart transfers” secured jobs with less responsibility at the same pay rate, along with massive relocation benefits.
“There is something in the federal government called PCS [permanent change of station],” Mike explained. “And along with that comes certain benefits.”
Those benefits, in many cases, include closing costs if you’re selling or buying a home, relocation expenses, and a per diem for the family during the relocation process.
VA executives Diana Rubens and Kimberly Graves---who were earning annually about $181,000 and $173,000, respectively---took regional jobs intended for subordinates, obtaining more than $400,000 in questionable moving expenses as part of the PCS relocation program.
The Justice Department decided to press criminal charges against these two former executives.
However, the U.S. attorney's office for the District of Columbia has declined a referral from the VA inspector general for criminal prosecution and referred the matter to the VA for any administrative action deemed appropriate. Additionally, Diana Rubens and Kimberly Graves were both demoted in November, but their demotions were rescinded this month after a paperwork mix-up. So, no criminal charges, no demotions, no firings for these egregious actions.
“Explain to me how we've promised the veterans in this country that they will receive medical care that they can't get, and the bureaucracy in the VA is so bad that managers can literally strong arm underlings, take hundreds of thousands of dollars in questionable relocation fees?" Mike asked rhetorically. "Not only do they not get prosecuted criminally---they don't lose their jobs, they don't lose pay, and no one is punished.”
Featured Image: YouTube Screenshot of Rubens and Graves pleading the fifth at the House Committee on Veterans Affairs Hearing.