WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Scott Peters (CA-52) released the following statement calling for Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric Shinseki to resign his post, or for President Obama to fire Secretary Shinseki should he not furnish a resignation. This comes in light of today’s report from the Office of the Inspector General at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

“For too long the VA has been steeped in complacency and mismanagement – that has to end today and the change must begin at the top. While General Shinseki’s service to his country is unquestioned, the failure to make necessary changes cannot continue. Secretary Shinseki should resign immediately or President Obama should ask him to leave.

“Our veterans and I have lost confidence in the Secretary’s ability to lead this deeply troubled institution. While I feel strongly that the changes needed are much bigger than just firing one person, this is the right start. As we seek to change the VA’s cultural failures, it will require many more changes including rooting out the managers who allowed unacceptable practices, like we’ve seen at the Phoenix facility, to occur. Our veterans, and their families, who have sacrificed so much deserve better.”