Mismanagement of the VA Executive Protection Division

Report Information

Issue Date
Report Number
17-03499-20
VA Office
Human Resources and Administration Office/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP)
Office of the Secretary (SVA)
Report Author
Office of Audits and Evaluations
Report Type
Audit
Recommendations
12
Questioned Costs
$0
Better Use of Funds
$0
Congressionally Mandated
No

Summary

Summary
In May and October 2017, the VA Office of Inspector General (OIG) received several complaints alleging mismanagement and misuse of the VA Executive Protection Division. The complainants alleged ineffective procedures, scheduling and overtime abuses, pay administration issues, time card fraud, and various policy violations. They also alleged the misuse of the Executive Protection Division by former VA Secretary David Shulkin. The OIG substantiated that VA mismanaged the Executive Protection Division from at least 2015. The OIG found that there were no published operational policies or procedures on critical executive protection functions and a lack of adequate threat assessments. The OIG also identified several potential security vulnerabilities caused by members of the Executive Protection Division, as well as abuses by agents who claimed to be performing official duties when they were not. Secretary Shulkin relied on advice from the Office of Operations, Security, and Preparedness on how and when to use protection services. The OIG concluded that it was within Secretary Shulkin’s discretion to use the Executive Protection Division as he did. However, the OIG also found that government resources (vehicle and official time) were used on a few occasions to provide transportation to the Secretary’s spouse and that Secretary Shulkin violated ethical regulations by permitting his VA employee driver to use a personal vehicle and personal time to provide transportation services to the Secretary’s wife. VA concurred with the OIG's 12 recommendations, including that VA publishes policies to regulate essential functions of the Executive Protection Division, develops adequate threat assessments, institutes procedures to report and address security lapses, holds agents accountable for contributing to security lapses, makes certain agents and supervisors are held accountable for any overtime and travel reimbursement abuses, and provides the principal under protection a thorough orientation to the appropriate uses of the division’s services.

Open Recommendation Image, SquareOpenClosed and Implemented Recommendation Image, CheckmarkClosed-ImplementedNot Implemented Recommendation Image, X character'Closed-Not Implemented
No. 1
Closed and Implemented Recommendation Image, Checkmark
to Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP)
The Acting Assistant Secretary for Human Resources and Administration ensures that the VA Police Service publishes written operational policies and procedures designed to regulate essential functions of the Executive Protection Division, including threat assessment processes, motorcade operations, security drills, equipment maintenance, use of personal protective gear, and other topics deemed appropriate after consultation with executive protection experts.
No. 2
Closed and Implemented Recommendation Image, Checkmark
to Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP)
The Acting Assistant Secretary for Human Resources and Administration makes certain that an adequate threat assessment is developed and kept current for each principal secured by the Executive Protection Division.
No. 3
Closed and Implemented Recommendation Image, Checkmark
to Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP)
The Acting Assistant Secretary for Human Resources and Administration, along with the Director of the Office of Security and Law Enforcement and the Director of Police Service, reviews the U.S. Secret Service recommendation made to VA in April 2017 about shift scheduling and either implements the recommendation or thoroughly documents the reasons for non-implementation.
No. 4
Closed and Implemented Recommendation Image, Checkmark
to Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP)
The Acting Assistant Secretary for Human Resources and Administration confers with the VA Offices of General Counsel and Accountability and Whistleblower Protection to ensure that bills of collection are issued to agents identified as receiving improper payments of overtime or travel reimbursement and to determine the appropriate administrative action to take, if any, against agents and supervisors who submitted or approved falsified time cards.
No. 5
Closed and Implemented Recommendation Image, Checkmark
to Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP)
The Acting Assistant Secretary for Human Resources and Administration consults with the Offices of General Counsel and Accountability and Whistleblower Protection to determine the appropriate administrative action to take, if any, against personnel involved with the nonsecure transmission of the former VA Secretary’s anticipated movements to individuals external to VA who had no need to know.
No. 6
Closed and Implemented Recommendation Image, Checkmark
to Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP)
The Acting Assistant Secretary for Human Resources and Administration ensures that the Executive Protection Division institutes procedures to report and appropriately address security lapses, such as those described in this report, and holds agents accountable for individual conduct that contributes to such lapses.
No. 7
Closed and Implemented Recommendation Image, Checkmark
to Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP)
The Acting Assistant Secretary for Human Resources and Administration establishes written procedures for documenting the review and approval of employee overtime within the Executive Protection Division and ensures compliance.
No. 8
Closed and Implemented Recommendation Image, Checkmark
to Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP)
The Acting Assistant Secretary for Human Resources and Administration assesses and takes remedial action, if necessary, to make certain that Executive Protection Division staff use parking and transit benefits in accordance with VA policy.
No. 9
Closed and Implemented Recommendation Image, Checkmark
to Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP)
The Acting Assistant Secretary for Human Resources and Administration confers with the Offices of General Counsel and Accountability and Whistleblower Protection to determine whether any agents inappropriately accepted transit benefits while using VA parking spaces, and if so, determine the appropriate administrative action to take, if any.
No. 10
Closed and Implemented Recommendation Image, Checkmark
to Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP)
The Acting Assistant Secretary for Human Resources and Administration works with the Offices of General Counsel and Accountability and Whistleblower Protection to institute procedures for an ombudsman or similar function that will enable the Executive Protection Division agents to address management disputes without needing to involve the VA Secretary.
No. 11
Closed and Implemented Recommendation Image, Checkmark
to Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP)
The Acting Assistant Secretary for Human Resources and Administration consults with the Office of General Counsel to confirm that the Executive Protection Division and the Office of Secretary have written policies and procedures reasonably designed to ensure that the principal under protection receives a thorough orientation to the appropriate uses of the Division’s services.
No. 12
Closed and Implemented Recommendation Image, Checkmark
to Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP)
The Acting Assistant Secretary for Human Resources and Administration consults with the Offices of General Counsel and Accountability and Whistleblower Protection to provide adequate mechanisms and training for all staff within the Office of Operations, Security, and Preparedness, including the Executive Protection Division, that ensure allegations of perceived misconduct by the VA Secretary can be appropriately addressed without the threat of retaliation.