"Government leaders must be accountable to the American people they serve. I believe that since Secretary Shinseki refuses to hold those in his agency accountable for mismanagement and horrendous mistakes then he has to be held accountable. In light of the information I have now seen, I join the growing number of my colleagues on both sides of the political aisle in calling for him to step down," said Congressman Tom Latham.
An interim report released this week by the VA OIG "identified about 1,400 veterans who did not have a primary care appointment but were appropriately included on the Phoenix Health Care System's [electronic waiting list]. However, [the report] identified an additional 1,700 veterans who were waiting for a primary care appointment but were not on the list. The report "confirmed that inappropriate scheduling practices are systemic throughout VHA." Despite calls for the resignation from many Congressmen, Senators, and fellow Veterans, Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs - Eric Shinseki - has not resigned.