WASHINGTON – Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), chairman of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, responded Thursday to the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General’s June 4 “white paper” defending its flawed inspection of the Tomah, Wis., VA Medical Center.

“Wisconsin’s veterans, the American public, and Congress would have been much better served had the VA OIG dedicated its efforts to addressing the overwhelming allegations of misconduct, mismanagement and abuse within the VA rather than crafting an attack against the families and whistleblowers of Tomah,” Johnson wrote to Linda Halliday, deputy inspector general at the VA Office of the Inspector General (OIG).

“This white paper is yet another example of the VA OIG’s stonewalling of the committee’s Tomah investigation.  To date, the VA OIG has still not fully complied with the committee’s April 29 subpoena, and this white paper is further evidence of the office’s fundamental misunderstanding of the importance of transparency and accountability. 

“I am hopeful that under the new leadership, the VA OIG will embrace its obligation to work with Congress to ensure that our nation’s veterans receive the care they deserve.” 

A copy of Chairman Johnson’s letter can be found here.

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