VA back paid hundreds of fired employees, report claims, as agency says it'll 'ensure' bad actors can't return

The VA responded to a FOIA tranche showing millions in back pay to fired employees by partially blaming a Trump-era law that forced arbitration

Its investigation also found the VA reinstated more than 100 terminated employees who were fired for indiscretions ranging from negligence to sleeping on the job. Dozens of dismissals accounted for in documents reviewed by Fox News Digital did not have other specific offenses listed with them. Charles Creitz is a reporter for Fox News Digital. 

Following the passage of the 2017 law, the VA reportedly failed to bargain with its public employee union and was ordered to attend arbitration. Because of this, according to a source familiar, the VA could have been required to rehire all previously terminated employees, including those fired for "grievous misconduct" like patient abuse or harassment. He joined Fox News in 2013 as a writer and production assistant. 

The agency ultimately reached a settlement with the union in 2023 and only 106 out of 1,700 employees offered financial compensation so far have been reinstated. Charles covers media, politics and culture for Fox News Digital.