[WASHINGTON, DC] – U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Ranking Member of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, announced today that Michael Missal, the former Inspector General (IG) for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), will be his guest at President Donald Trump’s Joint Address to Congress on Tuesday evening.

Missal, who was born and raised in Bristol, Connecticut, was first appointed to serve as the VA IG in 2015 by President Barack Obama and confirmed by the Senate in 2016. He served throughout Trump’s first term and President Joe Biden’s administration before being unlawfully terminated by Trump along with more than a dozen other independent Inspectors General in January.

“I am honored to have the VA’s former top internal watchdog, Bristol’s own Mike Missal, join me on Tuesday night. Mike served honorably under three different presidents – of both parties – rooting out waste and wrongdoing on behalf of our nation’s veterans. The work of independent and nonpartisan Inspectors General like Mike is invaluable. In the months before Mike was unlawfully terminated, he released critical investigative reports uncovering delays in care, incorrectly processed claims for PACT Act benefits, and fraudulent use of taxpayer dollars – all problems that could be fixed for veterans because he and his team uncovered them. Here in Connecticut, the VA Inspector General’s office conducted several reviews of the infrastructure, operations and care delivery at the West Haven facility that assisted me in efforts to secure funding for upgrades to the campus. Missal was uncovering waste, fraud, and abuse at VA – now Elon Musk is corrupting the Department and burning taxpayer dollars with no check. I am grateful to host Mike on Tuesday and to continue to speak out about the important work of all independent government watchdogs,” Blumenthal said.

“I greatly appreciate Senator Blumenthal’s invitation to attend the President’s Joint Address to Congress,” said Missal. “Senator Blumenthal has been a tireless and strong advocate for veterans and their families, as well as for independent and nonpartisan Inspectors General. I was privileged to conduct meaningful independent oversight of VA that helped ensure that veterans received the services and benefits that they earned, made VA’s programs and operations more efficient and effective, and held leaders accountable.”

As Blumenthal’s guest, Missal will accompany Blumenthal to a dinner hosted by the Secretary of the Senate where he will have the opportunity to share the importance of the work done by Inspectors General directly with other Senators before attending the Joint Address to Congress.

As VA IG, Missal oversaw a staff of more than 1,100 auditors, investigators, inspectors, data analysts, lawyers, and other personnel who collaborate to carry out a mission of meaningful independent oversight of VA. The Office of the Inspector General (OIG) directed investigations to prevent and detect criminal activity, waste, abuse, and mismanagement. Missal also advanced audits, inspections, reviews, and evaluations that promote economy, efficiency and accountability in VA programs and operations.

Over the last eight years, under the leadership of Missal, OIG oversight identified $45 billion in savings, cost avoidance, and questionable costs. These efforts have saved taxpayer dollars, cracked down on waste, fraud, and abuse, and improved government efficiency. According to Missal’s most recent semiannual report to Congress, VA OIG published 180 reports in the second half of 2024 that identified $5.1 billion in misspent funds and resulted in 137 arrests. Under Missal’s leadership, VA OIG also conducted regular inspections at all VA clinics and medical centers – a total of 1,200 facilities – to ensure that delays in care or other concerns could be swiftly identified and solved.

Among the more than 4,000 reports, investigations, and audits that Missal directed as Inspector General, some of the most significant and far-reaching include:

• The investigation and eventual conviction of a VA nurse assistant in West Virginia who murdered eight veterans in VA’s care;
• Twenty-two reports on VA’s challenged Electronic Health Record Modernization program exposing flaws in patient safety, contract oversight, and management;
• A report on the deficiencies in the establishment of the VA Office of Accountability and Whistleblower Protection;
• A report on improper awarding of financial payments to VA senior executives established under the PACT Act;
• Dozens of convictions of individuals and companies committing fraud against veterans and the American taxpayer;
• Inconsistent and improper processing of benefits claims authorized under the PACT Act;
• A review of senior leader conduct and response in relation to a veteran’s sexual assault allegations on VA property; and
• Several reviews of the physical infrastructure, safety, and related management challenges at the West Haven VA Medical Center.