VA forced to rehire fired DC medical director after appeal

The Department of Veterans Affairs was forced to rehire Brian Hawkins after he was fired in late July for poor leadership of the Washington D.C. VA Medical Center and reported email indiscretions, according to Stars and Stripes.

Mr. Hawkins previously served as medical director of the VA's Washington D.C. hospital, but was removed from his administrative duties in April after a report revealed poor conditions at the hospital. After it was uncovered that Mr. Hawkins sent sensitive information to personal email accounts, he was fired in July.

However, a wrongful termination appeal to the Merit Systems Protection Board has forced the VA to rehire him, though he will not return to his former hospital.

"No judge who has never run a hospital and never cared for our nation's Veterans will force me to put an employee back in a position when he allowed the facility to pose potential safety risks to our veterans," VA Secretary David Shulkin said in a written statement. "Protecting our veterans is my most important responsibility."

The Merit Systems Protection Board hears appeals from federal employees who have been fired. The board ruled that Mr. Hawkins must be rehired until his case is reviewed by the Office of Special Counsel.

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