http://thinkprogress.org/2007/07/17/nicholson-tenureVA Secretary Resigns After Record Of Neglecting VeteransVeterans Affairs (VA) Secretary, Jim Nicholson, has resigned. In a lengthy press release, the his department praises Nicholson for his “leadership” in “transform
the VA health care system to meet the unique medical requirements of the returning combatants from Iraq and Afghanistan.”
In reality, however, Nicholson’s tenure put the health care of both current and future veterans at risk. Some highlights:
- In February 2005, Nicholson kicked off his tenure by calling praising a VA budget proposal that cut “health care staffing, reduced funding for nursing home care and staffing cuts for the Board of Veterans Appeals.” He said it demonstrated of the Bush administration’s “ongoing commitment to provide the very best health care and benefits to those veterans who count on VA the most.”
- In May of 2006, Nicholson waited two weeks to notify the Justice Department and FBI of the “largest loss of personal data in U.S. government history.” He then waited another full week before notifying the 26.5 million effected veterans of the theft.
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