VA Official Engaged in Unethical Conduct

By Walter F. Roche Jr.

A former top official in the U.S. Veterans Administration engaged in unethical conduct when he steered a $5 million contract to two friends, a contract that netted a $5 million loss to taxpayers.
That was the conclusion of the VA's Inspector General on a contract awarded to an unnamed contractor participating in a program established to benefit service disabled veterans.
The report concludes that Peter Shelby, the former Assistant Secretary for Human Resources and Administration, a Trump appointee who resigned under fire in July of 2018.
The report states that Shelby "ranted and raved" when VA employees raised questions about awarding the contract on a "sole source" basis to the company under the Service Disabled Veteran program.
The report states that the contract benefited Shelby's friend at the contracting firm and another friend at a subcontractor on the contract, Blanchard Training and Development.
VA employees interviewed by the IG said that Hoskins was "insistent and intimidating" as he demanded subordinates take the necessary steps to award the contract.
Stating that the contract resulted in a $5 million "resulted entirely in waste," the IG made a series of suggestions to avoid a repetition which the agency agreed to implement.
The report states that Shelby's resignation was triggered by an investigation into an unrelated issue, the IG concluded that Shelby engaged in unethical conduct to benefit two friends.
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