VA secretary promises diverse leadership team, but can’t say when they’ll be in place February 23 Veterans Affairs Secretary Denis McDonough speaks during his confirmation hearing before the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee on Jan. 27, 2021. (Sarah Silbiger/Pool via AP)
Veterans Affairs Secretary Denis McDonough vowed that his leadership team at the federal bureaucracy will reflect the diversity of America’s veterans but offered no timeline for when other key senior posts at the department will be filled. “This will be a really important piece of demonstrating seriousness about diversity and inclusion,” McDonough said in a press conference with reporters on Tuesday. “Our political appointees to date reflect that. That’s intentional.”
New VA secretary promises unity around work to reform veterans programs February 9 Vice President Kamala Harris (right,) bumps elbows with Kari McDonough, after ceremonially swearing in McDonough s husband, Denis (far left) as the Veterans Affairs Secretary on Feb. 9, 2021, at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building on the White House complex in Washington, D.C. Behind them are McDonough s sons. (Jacquelyn Martin/AP) In his first message to veterans and department staff since his confirmation, Veterans Affairs Secretary Denis McDonough promised to base all of his decisions around “whether it increases veterans’ access to care and benefits and improves outcomes for them” as he takes on the task of reforming the massive federal bureaucracy.