The Veterans Affairs Department's inspector general has completed two reports (listed here) whose titles are ripe for tabloid headlines: "Administrative Investigation Misuse of Position, Abuse of Authority, and Prohibited Personnel Practices Office of Information & Technology Washington, D.C." and "Administrative Investigation Nepotism, Abuse of Authority, Misuse of Position, Improper Hiring, and Improperly Administered Awards, OI&T, Washington, D.C."
But before we go any further, let me emphasize that these reports have nothing to do with the current VA IT management, including the CIO, Roger Baker.
And at the moment, all the information available on the reports is contained in their titles. The rest is hidden away due to Privacy Act restrictions, though I understand redacted versions will be released once three people (and I will be one of them) file Freedom of Information Act requests for the reports.
I'm told the reports detail truly ugly practices. Nextgov editors started receiving calls tipping us off to their existence on Monday.
COMMENTS
Miss appropriated Veterans funds for a personal IG gym!!
I’m writing this due to the fact that I’m deeply saddened that my tax dollars and Veterans funds are going to an ALL Exclusive gym over at 801 I street (TechWorld) for the Office of Inspector General. I work with many Vet colleagues (current VA employees) and to there dismay weren’t allowed access because they aren’t part of the OIG. That is ludicrous that a Veteran who has served time in Afghanistan and Iraq can’t use a gym because dedicated funds for the Vet’s went to a highly upscale gym just for OIG officials. You might as well slap them in the face and take away their years of service. That is an insult to all who serve this country!!! Why is it that the OIG has a super fancy gym, when the money could be used more smartly in health care and benefits for Veterans? There is a gym a VACO 810 Vermont Ave, NW that regular VA employees pay for to use so why shouldn’t the same rules apply for all!
VA employee 08/20/09 11:27 am ET