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Thread: This is Your Government Policing Itself

  1. #1

    This is Your Government Policing Itself

    https://m.govexec.com/oversight/2019...lowers/156314/

    The Veterans Affairs Department’s watchdog is investigating a new office created by President Trump early in his administration that was designed to protect whistleblowers from reprisal but is now facing allegations of aiding retaliation against them.

    VA’s Office of Inspector General is leading the investigation from its new Office of Special Reviews, which the IG created to conduct “prompt reviews of significant events” and examine allegations of senior VA employee misconduct, an IG spokesman said. The new IG office is looking into activities at the Office of Accountability and Whistleblower Protection as part of an ongoing review of the implementation of the 2017 law that created OAWP.

    Trump created OAWP by executive order in 2017 and later codified it when he signed the 2017 VA Accountability and Whistleblower Protection Act into law. The office was mostly celebrated, with advocates hopeful that the focus on the rights and protections for whistleblowers would reverse a culture infamous for intimidation and reprisal. That optimism has largely soured, however, leading to hotline tips to the inspector general and bipartisan scrutiny from Congress.

    “There has been considerable interest by some members of Congress and other stakeholders in this effort,” said Mike Nacincik, the IG spokesman, who said he could not comment further on ongoing work.

    President Trump has frequently touted the law as one of his signature legislative achievements, focusing primarily on the reforms it made to expedite the disciplinary process for VA employees. But Trump also spoke of the promises on which skeptics now say the law has failed to deliver: “This bill protects whistleblowers who do the right thing,” Trump said. “We want to reward, cherish, and promote the many dedicated employees at the VA.”

    Government Executive spoke to several VA employees who expressed frustration or anger toward OAWP, three of whom have already been interviewed by IG investigators. They described feeling betrayed or neglected by an office they believed was going to help them but ended up doing the opposite. They said they have shared information with the investigators, including documentation of alleged reprisal.

    Curt Cashour, a VA spokesman, said the department “welcomes the inspector general’s oversight,” but defended it against most allegations. He acknowledged that the office experienced some growing pains, but said it has “evolved over time, refining and improving its policies and practices along the way.”

    What Whistleblowers Are Telling Investigators

    “It’s a crooked system where literally the fox is guarding the hen house,” said Jay DeNofrio.

    DeNofrio, an administrative officer at a VA facility in Altoona, Pa., had prior experience as a whistleblower before OAWP was created—years ago, he disclosed information about a doctor he said was losing mental capacity and putting veterans at risk—so he thought he understood the investigative process that takes place after employees make disclosures to investigators. OAWP, however, was the first body he’d ever worked with that coordinated with VA headquarters to find blemishes on his own record after he reported wrongdoing, he said. Investigators questioned his coworkers, telling them DeNofrio does not “walk on water” just because he is a protected whistleblower and encouraged them to immediately report “any instances of poor behavior,” according to transcripts of those conversations obtained through records requests and provided to Government Executive.
    Quote Originally Posted by Swordsmyth View Post
    We believe our lying eyes...



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  3. #2
    The government is horrible at policing itself? Who would have thought?
    "Perhaps one of the most important accomplishments of my administration is minding my own business."

    Calvin Coolidge

  4. #3
    You mean you CAN'T set the fox to guard the henhouse? Who knew?
    Chris

    "Government ... does not exist of necessity, but rather by virtue of a tragic, almost comical combination of klutzy, opportunistic terrorism against sitting ducks whom it pretends to shelter, plus our childish phobia of responsibility, praying to be exempted from the hard reality of life on life's terms." Wolf DeVoon

    "...Make America Great Again. I'm interested in making American FREE again. Then the greatness will come automatically."Ron Paul

  5. #4
    I'm sure juleswin has a reasonable explanation for this.
    "The Patriarch"

  6. #5
    Quote Originally Posted by Anti Globalist View Post
    The government is horrible at policing itself? Who would have thought?
    Actually, it's quite efficient. Especially the V.A. now that Trump set them up a special department to entrap those pesky whistleblowers.
    Quote Originally Posted by Swordsmyth View Post
    We believe our lying eyes...

  7. #6
    ABOLISH THE VA.

    Why do we have it? Let our vets use the Obamacare System and the government can just cover the copay.

    @realDonaldTrump https://m.govexec.com/oversight/2019...lowers/156314/
    Crooked VA system, must be abolished. Vets can use Obamacare, gov can pay the copay. ABOLISH THE VA!

    We're being governed ruled by a geriatric Alzheimer patient/puppet whose strings are being pulled by an elitist oligarchy who believe they can manage the world... imagine the utter maniacal, sociopathic hubris!

  8. #7
    Whistleblowers are traitors. @TheTexan
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  9. #8
    Quote Originally Posted by Danke View Post
    Whistleblowers are traitors. @TheTexan
    Indeed. The government took these people in, took them under their wing, trusted them. Gave them a job, a roof over their head, supported them.

    And how do they repay these many years of kindness they were shown? With betrayal.

    Makes me sick.
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