Congress, Obama Administration Face Off Over Firing Executives

Government Executive: The Veterans Affairs Department will no longer use the authority Congress granted it in 2014 to quickly fire poorly performing senior executives or those involved in wrongdoing, VA told lawmakers Friday, citing constitutionality concerns raised by the Justice Department.

The decision outraged lawmakers, who have tried to hold senior executives more accountable for the department’s failures. The 2014 Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act specifically sought to limit the appeals process for fired senior executives, but critics have warned the law violates employees’ due process rights.

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