EXCLUSIVE: A right-leaning research group is claiming that the Department of Veterans Affairs under the Biden administration back paid more than $130 million to 1,700 people fired under a Trump-era law that allows for easier accountability for federal employees.
Through Freedom of Information Act filings, the America First Policy Institute will soon release the results of its probe.
Its investigation also found the VA reinstated more than 100 terminated employees who were fired for indiscretions ranging from negligence to sleeping on the job. Dozens of dismissals accounted for in documents reviewed by Fox News Digital did not have other specific offenses listed with them.
Following the passage of the 2017 law, the VA reportedly failed to bargain with its public employee union and was ordered to attend arbitration. Because of this, according to a source familiar, the VA could have been required to rehire all previously terminated employees, including those fired for “grievous misconduct” like patient abuse or harassment.
The agency ultimately reached a settlement with the union in 2023 and only 106 out of 1,700 employees offered financial compensation so far have been reinstated.
GOP VETERAN LAWMAKER DROPS SCATHING ‘STOLEN VALOR’ LETTER TO WALZ AS TRUMP CAMP RIPS ‘FREAKISH TIMOTHY’
The Department of Veterans Affairs building is seen in Washington, D.C., on July 22, 2019. (ALASTAIR PIKE/AFP via Getty Images)
The investigation found that of the more than 4,000 terminated employees, more than 1,700 received back pay or compensation.
At that rate, back pay to the entire group of former employees would total $300 million, a statement from AFPI read.
Former Trump VA Secretary Robert Wilkie said the current administration has “let down American veterans and taxpayers” with such actions.
“Those fired for mistreating American veterans should not even be allowed near the VA, much less reinstated,” said Wilkie, now a fellow at AFPI’s Center for American…
