{"id":31355,"date":"2024-06-04T16:48:55","date_gmt":"2024-06-04T16:48:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/staging.sightlinemg.com\/federaltimes\/uncategorized\/2024\/06\/04\/no-firings-planned-after-va-executive-bonus-mistakes-secretary-says\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T16:24:09","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T16:24:09","slug":"no-firings-planned-after-va-executive-bonus-mistakes-secretary-says","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/staging.sightlinemg.com\/federaltimes\/management\/2024\/06\/04\/no-firings-planned-after-va-executive-bonus-mistakes-secretary-says\/","title":{"rendered":"No firings planned after VA executive bonus mistakes, secretary says"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Veterans Affairs Secretary Denis McDonough<\/a> on Tuesday acknowledged \u201ca series of massive mistakes\u201d in the improper awarding of about $11 million of incentive bonuses to senior department officials<\/a> last year but told lawmakers he still has confidence in his leadership team to make up for the errors and reform agency processes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Republican lawmakers questioned whether some senior leaders should be fired<\/a> because of the scandal, which they said has undermined public faith in the department.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cUltimately, the responsibility for this failure falls on your shoulders,\u201d House Veterans\u2019 Affairs Committee Chairman Mike Bost<\/a>, R-Ill., told the secretary at a hearing on the issue Tuesday. \u201cAnd if leaders below you fail, and are not held accountable, you must be held to account.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The contested bonuses were part of the $117 million Critical Skill Incentive Payments program authorized by Congress two years ago. Money from that fund has been given to more than 13,000 staffers with high-demand skills in an effort to keep them in VA hospitals and benefits offices.<\/p>\n\n\n\t