Concerned Veterans for America spokesperson Amber Smith told
Newsmax TV on Wednesday that she is "not necessarily" enthusiastic about plans announced by new Veterans Affairs Secretary Bob McDonald to make essential changes to the system.
"We've seen too much negative come out of the VA in terms of the wait list," Smith, an Iraq War veteran, said on "America's Forum." "Until there is actually real reform and change, that's what success looks like."
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Smith said that she is encouraged McDonald is planning changes, but is still concerned that many of the same employees who caused the VA's long litany of problems are still working for the federal agency.
"We have to realize you're not going to implement positive change if you expect these employees to implement the change," Smith said.
"Without accountability, it's not going to happen. Once they do take that into consideration, then they will really replace those people with leaders who are going to change the VA."
Sandy Fitzgerald ✉
Sandy Fitzgerald has more than three decades in journalism and serves as a general assignment writer for Newsmax covering news, media, and politics.
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