WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Johnny Isakson, R-Ga., chairman of the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, today released the following statement regarding U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary David Shulkin’s decision to remove the director and chief of staff of the VA medical center in Manchester, N.H., following reports of alleged mismanagement and failure to address whistleblower concerns.

“This kind of terrible mismanagement and substandard level of care for our veterans is unacceptable,” said Isakson. “Cases of mismanagement such as this one are exactly why we needed to work quickly to pass the VA accountability legislation. I am pleased Secretary Shulkin took decisive action to remove those directly responsible for overseeing the Manchester VA medical center. I will continue to work with the VA and the inspector general to ensure there is a full investigation into the mismanagement that has occurred.”

In a press statement issued Sunday, Secretary Shulkin outlined actions being taken by the department in response to whistleblower concerns and allegations of mismanagement at the Manchester VA medical center that was first reported by the Boston Globe.

After years of dealing with a bureaucratic process for accountability that made it difficult for the VA to quickly or efficiently remove employees who were found guilty of gross misconduct or mismanagement, Isakson’s legislation to improve accountability at the VA was passed by Congress and signed into law earlier this year. The VA Accountability and Whistleblower Protection Act increases the VA secretary’s authority to remove poor performing senior-level employees.

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The Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs is chaired by U.S. Senator Johnny Isakson, R-Ga., in the 115th Congress. Isakson is a veteran himself – having served in the Georgia Air National Guard from 1966-1972 – and has been a member of the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs since he joined the Senate in 2005. Isakson’s home state of Georgia is home to more than a dozen military installations representing each branch of the armed services as well as more than 750,000 veterans.