A U.S. House committee has subpoenaed the Department of Veterans Affairs over an internal investigation of what went wrong with the VA hospital being built in Aurora, Colo., reports The Denver Post.
The Aurora hospital is now expected to cost $1.7 billion, about three times its original budget. The cost overruns have led former hospital executives to retire, according to The Fiscal Times. One of the hospital officials was about to be dismissed and another was under investigation, according to the Deputy Secretary of the VA. Both officials retired before the agency could take any action against them. Since their departure, everyone involved in the cost overruns has left the VA, according to the report.
Congress and the VA have fought for months over whether the VA should reveal more details about its own investigation into the project, reports The Denver Post.
The article states that the VA has contended its findings did not warrant further punishment for anyone involved, and has expressed concerns about releasing confidential information.
But, seeking more details and explanation, committee members agreed on a voice vote to subpoena the VA for its investigation of the hospital and related documents, as well as a separate accounting of how much the VA has spent since fiscal year 2010 on art projects and other ornamental furnishings, according to The Denver Post.
The VA has until Sept. 28 to comply with the subpoena.
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