Benishek Demands VA be Held Accountable for 300K Dead Vets Report Shows that Hundreds of Thousands Died Waiting for Care

Washington, DC – The VA Inspector General released a report this morning indicating that the over 300,000 veterans died while waiting in the VA backlog to receive care. These veterans were among the 800,000 total who were caught in the backlog. The report went on to indicate that VA employees hid applications for care in their desks and that VA officials recommended that these employees not be disciplined.

“The Inspector General’s report is outrageous, and its finding are tragic. The endless amount of probing and investigations that it takes before the VA finally reveals the truth about the mismanagement that is occurring has got to stop now. Our veterans are suffering and no veteran who has served in the defense of our nation should ever die from bureaucratic incompetence. We continue to provide the VA new tools and authority to help instill a culture of accountability, but unless the VA starts telling the truth about the extent of the mismanagement, no one will be able to provide the solutions we need to fix the problems,” said Dr. Benishek , who worked as a surgeon at the Iron Mountain VA for over twenty years and currently serves as the Chairman of the Subcommittee on Veterans Health.

The reports from the Inspector General are a result of a request from theCommittee on Veterans Affairs after a hearing attended by Dr. Benishek on July 8, 2014. After receiving testimony from a whistleblower indicating that the VA backlog was far larger than had previously been reported, the Committee called for an investigation by the Inspector General into the allegations.