Kansas Congresswoman Lynn Jenkins sharply criticized comments made this week by Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Robert McDonald. McDonald infuriated many lawmakers in Washington when he said reducing medical wait times for veterans should not be the primary measure of success of the VA. Jenkins, whose Kansas Second District includes the Eisenhower VA Medical Center in Leavenworth and the Colmery-O'Neil VA Medical Center in Topeka, said McDonald owes veterans an apology.
An inspector general's report found that administrators at 13 VA medical centers doctored their wait-time reports and then lied to investigators about the deception. Other inspection reports indicate that thousands of veterans have died while waiting for VA health-care appointments. Several members of Congress have called for McDonald to step down.
