This afternoon, the Subcommittee on Oversight & Investigations of the Committee on Veterans Affairs held an oversight hearing entitled: VA Construction Policy: Failed Plans Result in Plans That Fail. This hearing was scheduled following the release of the devastating April 4, 2013 GAO Report that uncovered shocking cost overruns and delays on four major construction projects (ranging from 59% to 144% over cost and 14 to 72 months past promised completion dates).
Under questioning from Congressman Tim Huelskamp (R-Kansas), VA Executive Glenn Haggstrom (Principal Executive Director of the Office of Acquisition, Logistics & Construction) admits the Obama Administration’s political appointees never told him what he did to earn an extra $55k in taxpayer money on top of his base pay. Between 2009 and 2011, Mr. Haggstrom was paid bonuses that total $54,792

 

Following the hearing, Congressman Huelskamp released the following statement:

“It is for good reason the Obama Administration’s political appointees at the Department of Veterans Affairs never told a senior executive official what he did to earn fifty-five thousand taxpayer dollars in bonus pay.  Given his gross mismanagement of the VA’s construction office, Executive Director Haggstrom deserved to be demoted and/or removed.  I look forward to hearing VA Secretary Shinseki’s explanation for Mr. Haggstrom’s bonuses and continued employment.  The VA paid nearly $3 million in bonuses to its employees in FY 2011!  The department has a pattern of paying bonuses to the very bureaucrats who waste millions.  At a time when the nation is more than $17 trillion in debt, Congressional oversight of the executive branch, and especially the VA, is more vital than ever before.”