WASHINGTON - Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa continues to drill down on agencies' use of extensive paid administrative leave, now focusing on the Department of Veterans of Affairs (VA). In a letter to the agency, Grassley cited its "troubled record" on paid leave, including reportedly placing employees on such leave pending investigations into their inappropriate actions related to secret VA waiting lists, as well as accusations of using administrative leave as retaliation for employees who objected to instructions to manipulate appointment times or other improper practices.
Grassley's letter to Secretary Robert McDonald said the Government Accountability Office reported that the VA placed nearly 6,000 employees on administrative leave for between 1 and 6 months in fiscal years 2011-2013, comprising nearly 2 percent of its workforce. And, in fiscal year 2014, the VA outspent all other agencies surveyed with respect to employees on administrative leave for a month or more.
"As such, oversight of the VA's use of administrative leave is critical," Grassley wrote to McDonald.
In response to a letter sent to all major agencies from Grassley and Rep. Darrell Issa last October, the VA reported that it placed 46 employees on paid administrative leave for a year or more. "The agency's explanations for doing so were largely vague, incomplete, or incoherent," Grassley wrote. "The VA's responses suggest it may be placing some employees on administrative leave for inappropriately long periods of time and that it does not adequately track or manage use of administrative leave. Further, the VA's incomplete responses to this inquiry make it impossible to fully evaluate the agency's use of administrative leave, and thus frustrate meaningful oversight."
Grassley asked for a full accounting of the agency's reasons for putting employees on paid administrative leave for extended periods.
Last week, Grassley asked the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for a full accounting of why each of 88 employees has been on paid administrative leave for more than a year. Grassley's request came after an inadequate explanation from the agency on its use of paid administrative leave.
Grassley is working with Sen. Jon Tester on potential legislation that would force agencies to make a decision on whether an employee is a danger to fellow employees and must be removed from the workplace or whether that person can be reassigned while his case is resolved. "The goal is to make sure federal employees are working for taxpayers and not lingering on paid leave at taxpayer expense," Grassley said.
Grassley's letter to the VA is available here. The VA's prior response is available here.
Grassley's letter to DHS is available here. DHS' prior response is available here.
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