Gen. Eric Shinseki, head of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, has resigned, saying he did "not want to be a distraction" after a government investigation confirmed widespread shortcomings in the health care the nation provides its military veterans.

President Barack Obama announced the resignation in a White House address Friday morning, saying he accepted it "with considerable regret."

He has appointed Sloan Gibson, Shinseki's deputy, to be department's interim leader.

Shinseki apologized for the scheduling abuses Friday, saying "we now know that VA has a systemic, totally unacceptable lack of integrity within some of our veterans' health facilities." Taking responsibility for the situation, he said he had originally thought the problems were isolated.

Shinseki had been under pressure to resign following revelations of months-long wait times for appointments and of a coverup in scheduling delays.

Obama did not say whether the Justice Department will pursue criminal charges.

Shinseki already had announced several changes, including the removal of leaders at the VA center in Phoenix, Arizona, where the scandal first came to light. He also suspended bonuses for some senior officials.

More changes are likely, Obama said, saying the VA's information system probably would need to be upgraded. The president also said he would expect "changes in the culture within the VA." 

Obama praised Shinseki's service, saying the four-star general had championed veterans' care, particularly for traumatic brain injury, Agent Orange and women's specialized care. Shinseki also cut veteran homelessness by 24 percent, Obama said.

Obama also [Read More]

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Source: VOA News: Human Rights and Law