CONTACT: Gretchen Andersen (212) 982-9699 or press@iava.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Gretchen Andersen, 212-982-9699, press@iava.org
CONTACT: Joe Newman (202) 347-1122, jnewman@pogo.org
IAVA Stands With Project on Government Oversight As They Say No To Subpoena
IAVA CEO and Founder Paul Rieckhoff Says Whistleblowers Must be Able To Submit Information in Confidence
New York, NY (June 18, 2014) – Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA), the nation’s largest non-profit, non-partisan organization representing post-9/11 veterans and their families, is standing with Project on Government Oversight (POGO) as they declined to comply with the Inspector General of the Department of Veterans Affairs’ subpoena to turn over all information it has collected related to abuses and mismanagement at VA medical facilities.
Last month, IAVA and POGO joined together to protect VA staff who came forward with information about agency wrongdoing.
As part of the effort, the organizations have launched a secure website, www.VAOversight.org, where VA employees can get in touch with POGO and IAVA. The effort combines IAVA’s deep knowledge of the VA system with POGO’s experience working with whistleblowers to expose federal wrongdoing.
“We are disappointed that the Inspector General, instead of focusing on fixing problems at the VA, is taking actions which could have a chilling effect on exposing the problems in the first place,” said IAVA CEO and Founder Paul Rieckhoff. "Whistleblowers broke this scandal at VA initially and must be protected again now. They are courageous public servants who have performed a tremendous service to the VA and IAVA members nationwide. Ensuring they are protected is in the best interest of the VA, our veterans and our country."
Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (www.IAVA.org) is the nation's first and largest nonpartisan, nonprofit organization representing veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan and has more than 270,000 Member Veterans and civilian supporters nationwide. Celebrating its 10th year anniversary, IAVA recently received the highest rating - four-stars - from Charity Navigator, America's largest charity evaluator.
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