Improving Accountability and Whistleblower Protection at the Department of Veterans Affairs

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Published

May 2, 2017

Signed

April 27, 2017

Issuing agencies

Executive Office of the President

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[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 83 (Tuesday, May 2, 2017)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 20539-20540]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2017-08990]



[[Page 20537]]

Vol. 82

Tuesday,

No. 83

May 2, 2017

Part II





The President





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Executive Order 13793--Improving Accountability and Whistleblower 
Protection at the Department of Veterans Affairs


                        Presidential Documents 



Federal Register / Vol. 82 , No. 83 / Tuesday, May 2, 2017 / 
Presidential Documents

___________________________________________________________________

Title 3--
The President

[[Page 20539]]

                Executive Order 13793 of April 27, 2017

                
Improving Accountability and Whistleblower 
                Protection at the Department of Veterans Affairs

                By the authority vested in me as President by the 
                Constitution and the laws of the United States of 
                America, it is hereby ordered as follows:

                Section 1. Purpose. This order is intended to improve 
                accountability and whistleblower protection at the 
                Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) by directing the 
                Secretary of Veterans Affairs (Secretary) to establish 
                within the VA an Office of Accountability and 
                Whistleblower Protection and to appoint a Special 
                Assistant to serve as Executive Director of the Office.

                Sec. 2. Establishing a VA Office of Accountability and 
                Whistleblower Protection. (a) Within 45 days of the 
                date of this order, and to the extent permitted by law, 
                the Secretary shall establish in the VA the Office of 
                Accountability and Whistleblower Protection (Office), 
                and shall appoint a Special Assistant, reporting 
                directly to the Secretary, to serve as Executive 
                Director of the Office. The VA shall provide funding 
                and administrative support for the Office, consistent 
                with applicable law and subject to the availability of 
                appropriations.

                    (b) To the extent permitted by law, the Office 
                shall:

(i) advise and assist the Secretary in using, as appropriate, all available 
authorities to discipline or terminate any VA manager or employee who has 
violated the public's trust and failed to carry out his or her duties on 
behalf of veterans, and to recruit, reward, and retain high-performing 
employees;

(ii) identify statutory barriers to the Secretary's authority to discipline 
or terminate any employee who has jeopardized the health, safety, or well-
being of a veteran, and to recruit, reward, and retain high-performing 
employees; and report such barriers to the Secretary for consideration as 
to the need for legislative changes;

(iii) work closely with relevant VA components to ensure swift and 
effective resolution of veterans' complaints of wrongdoing at the VA; and

(iv) work closely with relevant VA components to ensure adequate 
investigation and correction of wrongdoing throughout the VA, and to 
protect employees who lawfully disclose wrongdoing from retaliation.

                    (c) In establishing the Office, the Secretary shall 
                consider, in addition to any other relevant factors:

(i) whether some or all of the functions of the Office are currently 
performed by an existing VA office, component, or program;

(ii) whether certain administrative capabilities necessary for operating 
the Office are redundant with those of another VA office, component, or 
program; and

(iii) whether combining the Office with another VA office, component, or 
program may improve the VA's efficiency, effectiveness, or accountability.

                Sec. 3. General Provisions. (a) Nothing in this order 
                shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect:

(i) the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or 
the head thereof; or

[[Page 20540]]

(ii) the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget 
relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.

                    (b) This order shall be implemented consistent with 
                applicable law and subject to the availability of 
                appropriations.
                    (c) This order is not intended to, and does not, 
                create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, 
                enforceable at law or in equity by any party against 
                the United States, its departments, agencies, or 
                entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any 
                other person.
                <GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT>
                
                    (Presidential Sig.)

                THE WHITE HOUSE,

                    April 27, 2017.

[FR Doc. 2017-08990
 Filed 5-1-17; 11:15 am]
Billing code 3295-F7-P


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