Following the recent scandal at a Phoenix health care facility, former-Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki addressed the department’s corruption in a speech on May 30. He announced that as a result of the scandal, no senior leadership will receive a bonus this year, and that all of them will be removed from their positions at the facility. The scandal has caused many to call for Shinseki’s resignation. While Shinseki originally showed no signs of stepping down, President Obama announced Shinseki’s resignation in a news conference today.
In the speech, Shinseki also apologized to Congress, to the American people, and to the speech’s attendees – members of the National Coalition of Homeless Veterans. Shinseki was particularly apologetic to the veteran community, referring to them as “the people whom I care most deeply about,” adding that as the senior leader of the Department of Veterans of Affairs, he has “been honored to serve for over five years” in what he referred to as the “call of a lifetime.”
Shinseki took full responsibility for failing to recognize the problems in his department, which resulted in unacceptably long waits for appointments and, in some cases, death from lack of timely care. “I said when this situation began weeks to months ago that I thought the problem was limited and isolated, because I believed that,” he said. “I no longer believe that. It is systemic.”
Shinseki met with President Obama following the speech to have a “serious conversation,” according to the president. Later, in a news conference, the president announced Shinseki’s resignation. Shinseki stated that he “does not want to be a distraction” while the situation is being fixed.
“That was Ric’s judgment on behalf of his fellow veterans, and I agree,” stated President Obama. VA deputy Sloan Gibson will step in as acting VA Secretary until a new candidate can be selected and fill the post permanently.