A high-ranking official at the Department of Veterans Affairs said Tuesday that the department has “regret” for Secretary Robert McDonald’s comments on Monday comparing wait times at VA hospitals to wait times at at Disney theme park.
“Bob and I deeply regret the distraction … that’s been caused by these remarks,” said Sloan Gibson, deputy VA secretary, at a hearing before the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee.
“Anyone who knows Bob McDonald knows that he would never, ever diminish the importance of improving veterans’ access to care,” Gibson added. “He is doing everything he can, and we are working with him to make VA more veteran-centered and increase veteran satisfaction.”
Lawmakers on the Senate VA Committee called on McDonald to apologize Tuesday at the outset of the hearing while defending the secretary’s overall record.
“If he hasn’t apologized already, I’m sure he will,” said Sen. Jon Tester, R-Mont.
“We all make mistakes,” said Sen. Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska. “But when you’re in a leadership position … those kind of comments, they’re going to be noticed.”
McDonald declined to apologize personally during a televised interview earlier Tuesday.
The VA chief has weathered an intense backlash following his attempt Monday to explain why veteran wait times are not a “valid” measure of the agency’s success.
