Following serious allegations of sexual harassment at the Tennessee-based Mountain Home VA Medical Center, House Committee on Veterans Affairs Chairman Mike Bost publicly urged the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for accountability on September 20, 2024. Concerning these claims—which include accusations of inappropriate interpersonal ties between facility personnel and sexual harassment and assault—Bost has consistently called for transparency. Whistleblowers and Under Secretary for Health Dr. Shereef Elnahal initially raised these reports, which prompted the Committee to look into the matter more. Chairman Bost demands clarification on how VA leadership has addressed these occurrences, citing the Biden-Harris administration’s and the VA’s lack of response as a primary complaint. Secretary of Veterans Affairs Denis McDonough has not responded to any of Bost’s several letters with any natural substance. Bost has threatened to submit a subpoena if the VA doesn’t cooperate, warning that frustrations will only mount.
A Brief History of the Allegations
When Dr. Shereef Elnahal reported claims of sexual harassment and an inappropriate interaction between a supervisor and a subordinate employee, the situation at Mountain Home VA Medical Center officially came to light in July 2024. Subsequently, other reports of sexual harassment, assault, and misconduct have become apparent through whistleblower statements. The VA has not responded promptly to repeated questions from the House Committee nor given sufficient information about the accusations or the steps being implemented to investigate and resolve them.
The VA has been under fire in the past for failing to investigate or managing allegations of sexual harassment and misbehavior improperly, and it seems that the same silence will apply in this case as well. Prior accusations of similar nature were made against the VA’s Office of Resolution Management, Diversity & Inclusion (ORMDI), claiming that mishandled cases resulted in senior VA officials resigning, retiring, or being fired. Chairman Bost confronted this troubling tendency head-on in his letter to McDonough, requesting answers and responsibility.
Request for Transparency and Responsibility
Chairman Bost voiced grave concerns regarding the VA’s unethical disregard for the probe in his third and most recent correspondence. He emphasized how crucial it is that the Committee have all of the information on the VA’s alleged mishandling of the Mountain Home case as quickly as possible, particularly in light of the VA’s prior mishandling of cases exactly like this. Bost claims that the VA’s lack of candor on this issue is jeopardizing their adherence to the White Ribbon Pledge, which is a vow to never engage in, justify, or ignore sexual harassment or assault.
Bost declared that further delay would not be tolerated, and the Committee would issue subpoenas if necessary.
The VA has continuously failed to provide answers or arrange briefings as requested, as illustrated by the timeline of requests and responses—or lack thereof—that the Chairman presented. These deliberate setbacks have done nothing to ease concerns that the Mountain Home accusations might be just as serious as other ORMDI events.
Veterans Affairs: A Broader Issue
The House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs has discovered multiple instances in the past few years of VA leadership ignoring complaints of misconduct, especially sexual harassment. The Atlanta VA police force and the ORMDI assertions point to an even bigger problem with the VA’s culture and how it manages serious misbehavior.
These incidents hurt the victims as well as the VA’s primary goal of supporting and safeguarding veterans and their families. The workers in these environments are left vulnerable, and veterans often lose faith in the care and safety provided by their caregivers and colleagues. Bost aims to resolve these issues, reassure the public of the VA’s accountability, and show his dedication to improving worker safety.
Looking Ahead
As Chairman Bost mentioned, the Committee is committed to moving forward as of September 20, 2024, without any retreat. The investigation into the allegations surrounding the Mountain Home VA will continue, regardless of the VA’s willingness to cooperate. Should the Committee issue a subpoena, it will have the authority to compel the VA to provide the necessary information to ensure proper oversight of how these accusations are being addressed and to hold the responsible parties accountable. The goal is to resolve the issues raised at Mountain Home and prevent such problems from arising again. Chairman Bost and his colleagues are on a mission to guarantee that the VA keeps its pledge to provide a harassment-free workplace for its workers.