Veterans Affairs Secretary Resigns
EmailABC News’ Jennifer Duck Reports: Secretary of Veterans Affairs Jim Nicholson submitted his resignation today saying he will return to work in the private sector. He will be replaced before October 1 of this year.
Nicholson’s tenure as Secretary of Veteran Affairs has been criticized over the past year and a half, with closing hospitals around the country, overcrowded conditions for veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan, questionable outpatient care for veterans at Walter Reed Army Medical Center and other hospitals, the loss of 26.5 million veterans’ personal data last summer, and awarding $3.8 million in bonuses to senior officials in charge of the failing budget at the VA.
However, White House Press Secretary Tony Snow said there was "no backstory" on Nicholson’s departure. President Bush went further praising Nicholson’s work saying, "Jim has led innovative efforts to ensure that the Department of Veterans Affairs is better prepared to address the challenges facing our newest generation of heroes after they return home."
Nicholson has worked for the administration since 2001 as an ambassador to the Holy See and was sworn in as Secretary of Veterans Affairs on February 1, 2005.
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Call me cynic.. but does this have to do with the D.C. Madam, since Vitter came out pre-emptively and admitted his crime and the V.A. Sec resigns all of a sudden, something smells fishy!
Posted by: American | July 17, 2007, 12:31 pm 12:31 pm
Doesn’t surprise me one bit that another one of Bush’s peps turns out to be a complete and utter failure and embarrassment to this country.
Posted by: Joanne | July 17, 2007, 12:44 pm 12:44 pm
This resignation is overdue and welcome.
Mr. Nicholson permitted himself to get caught up in this Administration’s malfeasance in office. It will be critical to have a replacement who is professional and accountable to us veterans.
I salute his service and wish him well.
Posted by: Donn Nemchick | July 17, 2007, 1:10 pm 1:10 pm
RATS, one and all. Better jump for shore now boys or the sewage bubbling up from under the White House will take you all down.
Posted by: NakedEmperor | July 17, 2007, 1:40 pm 1:40 pm
It saddens me to see people write such disparaging remarks about a good man. He is a veteran as well and worked hard to make things better for our returning men and women. I’d like to see one of these people walk in Sec. Nicholson’s shoes for just ONE day.
Posted by: Proud American | July 17, 2007, 1:57 pm 1:57 pm
I agree with Proud American…one has to wonder what the underlying reason for disparaging remarks are especially when the cowards are not brave enough to even use their first name!
Posted by: Ruth | July 17, 2007, 2:03 pm 2:03 pm
well i think he should have resigned. not only are the new vets having problems, but i just had to contact a senator to get hubby’s back pay and monthly increase after he had been approved for an increase from 50% to 100% in oct 2005. they had one excuse after another why it hasn’t been paid. as of today it still has not been paid. he is a viet nam vet they owe him over $30,000 in back pay. yet they say they did such a great job they gave themselves bonus’s of $30,000 was this my hubby’s backpay that they got?
Posted by: ginny | July 17, 2007, 2:05 pm 2:05 pm
Maybe he is the smart one leave before the final curtain call.
Posted by: ant | July 17, 2007, 2:13 pm 2:13 pm
..he’s the guy who fired one of his deputies last year for losing all the personal vet data. Another example of why political appointees should not get these type jobs. They should be held by career federal employees.
Posted by: neil | July 17, 2007, 2:30 pm 2:30 pm
ABC News keeps incorrectly linking Walter Reed to the VA. Walter Reed is an ARMY medical center, not a VA facility. ABC, try getting the simple stuff right.
Posted by: M. R. Smith | July 17, 2007, 8:33 pm 8:33 pm
Too little, too late.
Supporting the troops is more than just a phrase. If you support people who hate the troops, firing them after they carry out your orders doesn’t begin to make up for it.
If you vote for a Republican, you are no better than they are.
Posted by: Tammy Stickers | July 18, 2007, 12:46 pm 12:46 pm
guilt caught up to u jimmy??? i will save that letter u sent me, saying my husband was not entitled to anything, nor was i (duh, he’s been a dav since 1965??) NOT ENTITLED?? well, IT PAYS TO KEEP BITCHING I GUESS…. i just hope every veteran keeps fighting for what they deserve–why let an alien have it? u are crooked, just like the rest of them.
Posted by: donna | July 18, 2007, 5:25 pm 5:25 pm