Legal uncertainty over Veterans Affairs abortion policy worries staff
By Leo Shane III
Thursday, Oct 5
Veterans Affairs staffers worry they could run afoul of state laws banning abortion services despite department leaders’ promises of legal protection, according to a recent report released by the VA Inspector General.
The concerns come as President Joe Biden’s nominee to serve as VA’s general counsel remains stalled in the Senate over what appear to be political disagreements regarding the department’s abortion policy. Last week, VA Secretary Denis McDonough called the confirmation delay problematic for his entire department.
“We have 680 attorneys working for VA,” he told reporters. “We are constantly working with Congress and the courts, making sure we are carrying out our business consistent with the statutory obligations of the agency. It is meaningful to have a confirmed general counsel in that slot.”
Anjali Chaturvedi, who currently works as a deputy assistant attorney general in the Justice Department, was nominated by Biden for the top VA legal post in June 2022. Last week, Politico reported that Senate Republicans and Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., have blocked the nomination over concerns about VA abortion policies announced in fall 2023.
https://www.militarytimes.com/management/hr/2023/10/05/legal-uncertainty-over-veterans-affairs-abortion-policy-worries-staff/
