The Department of Veterans Affairs has been forced to rehire a fired worker after that worker appealed the decision to the Merit Systems Protection Board.
Brian Hawkins was the head of the VA Medical Center in Washington, D.C., but was fired after it was discovered that he was sending emails about problems at the facility to his wife. The D.C. facility was also being investigated for management problems, and the VA’s move was based on a finding that he was incapable of leading the facility.
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But Hawkins appealed that decision to the MSPB, which ordered a stay of the VA’s decision. He will now return to work pending an Office of Special Counsel review of Hawkins’ claims.
VA Secretary David Shulkin has said several times in public that current law has hamstrung his efforts to shed the department of nonproductive, corrupt or negligent employees. In a statement from the VA, Shulkin said he would at minimum make sure Hawkins is not allowed to work with veterans.
“No judge who has never run a hospital and never cared for our nation’s Veterans will force me to put an employee back in a position when he allowed the facility to pose potential safety risks to our veterans,” Shulkin said. “Protecting our veterans is my most important responsibility.”
The Washington Post reported last week that investigators found the “highest levels of chaos” at the facility, and the failure to inventory $150 million worth of medical supplies, among other problems.
Legislation passed in 2014 and this year was aimed at making it easier for the VA to fire workers, but those workers are still permitted to seek an appeal to the MSPB, a body that came out against the 2014 VA reform law as a possible violation of the Constitution.
