The abrupt firing yesterday of Department of Veterans Affairs James Byrne was not related to the handling of a sexual assault allegation filed in September, a VA representative said.
“James Byrne’s dismissal has nothing to do with that,” spokeswoman Christina Mandreucci said in an email without providing further explanation.
The assertion counters claims by CNBC and Axios that the firing was related to the mishandling of an assault allegation filed by reserve Navy intelligence officer Andrea Goldstein, who in September filed a complaint that she was slammed into a wall at a Washington, D.C., VA Medical Center by a man who pressed his body up against hers.
Goldstein was a staff member on the House Veterans Affairs Committee working to curb sexual harassment when the incident allegedly took place.
Byrne’s firing, announced in a brief statement on Monday by VA Secretary Robert Wilkie, was effective immediately and said simply that Byrne was dismissed “due to loss of confidence” in his “ability to carry out his duties.”
Although other possible reasons for the firing have been rumored around Washington, on Tuesday, the VA still pointed to the two-line statement without elaborating.
Byrne was the fourth official to hold the deputy secretary position in President Trump’s three years in office.
After Byrne’s firing, Goldstein wrote in an article posted on Jezebel that her sexual assault claim was closed by the VA two weeks ago for “insufficient evidence” and that Wilkie had written a letter to Veterans Affairs’ Committee Chairman Rep. Mark Takano, saying VA facilities were safe and the “unsubstantiated claims” of those such as Goldstein’s could deter veterans from seeking the care they need.
For his part, Takano, a California Democrat, issued a statement Monday calling on Wilkie to reveal to the public the reason for the dismissal and assure veterans that care and benefits will not be delayed despite the revolving door in the No. 2 slot.
“I have many questions about what Deputy Secretary Byrne’s firing means for our veterans and VA as a whole,” he wrote. Takano said it is his duty to ensure veterans receive timely access to care and benefits. “I want to make sure this personnel decision will not impact that commitment.”
The VA said on Tuesday that under President Trump, the agency has seen “more patients than ever before, more quickly than ever before.”
Mandreucci explained in an email reply to a question from the Washington Examiner that in fiscal year 2019, the agency completed more than 59.9 million internal appointments, about 1.7 million more than the year before.
“James Byrne’s dismissal will not affect this unprecedented progress,” the spokeswoman wrote, adding that the VA “compares favorably to the private sector” for access and quality of care.
The VA is under pressure from Trump to show results after the president promised to deliver better care to veterans, including by incorporating private-sector treatment. Wilkie will speak on Wednesday on another issue plaguing returning combat veterans — high suicide rates and what the administration is doing to curb the trend.
The VA did not specifically address a question as to how the VA will assure that Byrne’s position can be filled quickly.
Byrne worked just under five months in the position and was confirmed by the Senate on Sept. 11 by a bipartisan vote of 81-11. Before Byrne was named acting deputy in August, the position was vacant for 10 months.
