Military Times by Leo Shane III 2/7/2020
Individuals close to a top Veterans Affairs official abruptly fired by Secretary Robert Wilkie this week are disputing department leaders’ assertions that the move was a mundane business decision, instead characterizing it as a surprise attack on a well-respected administrator.
The confusion surrounding the firing of former Deputy Secretary James Byrne calls into question the stability of leadership for the department, which oversees health care for more than 9 million veterans and is in the midst of a multi-year overhaul of key military and medical records systems.
Byrne has not yet publicly commented on the move, which was announced Monday in a two-sentence statement by VA leaders. Byrne served as the second-highest ranking official in VA for almost 18 months, first in an acting capacity and for the last five months as the deputy secretary after his confirmation in September.
On Wednesday, Wilkie called Byrne’s firing “a simple business decision†and downplayed concerns about turmoil at the top levels of the department.
“There are times in any company, in the military and even in Congress when some people in the organization just don’t gel with the team,†Wilke told reporters at a press conference. “I wish Jim Byrne well.â€
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https://www.militarytimes.com/news/pentagon-congress/2020/02/07/sudden-firing-of-top-va-official-raises-questions-about-leadership-stability/
