The Department of Veterans Affairs is suffering from not having enough human resources personnel, and a new report concludes that is hurting retention and dragging down the process of bringing new people on board.
The Government Accountability Office (GAO) found a link between a shortage of HR workers and a staffing deficit of physicians, registered nurses, and psychologists — people who perform the heart of the VA's mission.
The situation will not improve at the moment because HR VA positions are not exempt from the Trump administration's hiring freeze that spans the width of the entire government. The report claims 108 VA positions in clinical and administrative roles are, however, exempt.
"A prolonged freeze could further erode VHA's capacity to provide HR services such as recruiting and hiring of staff who provide medical care to veterans," a summary of the report read.
The VA has been in hot water since 2014, when it was revealed falsified waiting lists were being used at several facilities in the VA network. Other problems have been uncovered since, including unsanitary conditions and drug theft.
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