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Audit: Nearly a Fourth of US Veterans Affairs Employees Report Sexual
Harassment

Associated Press

   WASHINGTON - Nearly one-quarter of employees at the Department of
   Veterans Affairs say they have been subjected to unwanted sexual
   comments and other harassment -- one of the highest levels in federal
   government -- and an audit says the Trump administration has not been
   doing enough to protect them.

   At a House hearing Wednesday, lawmakers heard VA express a commitment
   to "changing the culture" to make the department more welcoming to
   women, but that long-sought improvements urged by the Government
   Accountability Office could take until 2024 to fully implement.

   Lawmakers responded that they were not willing to wait, even if it
   meant passing legislation to force more immediate changes.

   "The VA is not the same VA as four years ago," insisted acting VA
   Deputy Secretary Pam Powers, pointing to increased outreach to women
   and improved trust ratings in the VA from employees and patients alike
   according to internal polling.

   Training, leadership structure faulted

   The GAO audit said the agency had outdated training and policies, a
   leadership structure that creates conflicts of interest in reviewing
   harassment complaints, and gaps in reporting complaints to VA
   headquarters in Washington.

   Powers said the agency was addressing the issue but stressed that
   personnel and other fixes required more money. She said some changes
   wouldn't start until 2024, in part because "every hour we spend takes
   away from patient care."

   "It's an ongoing process, and we've certainly addressed a lot," Powers
   said. "We have a very targeted effort."

   Expressing frustration and puzzlement about protracted delays,
   Representative Chris Pappas, who heads the House Veterans Affairs
   oversight panel, said he would introduce legislation to ensure quicker
   action. His effort seeks to reinforce a call by top Democratic and
   Republican leaders of the House and Senate veterans affairs committees
   last week for a faster timeline.

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