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Senators fault VA nominee over workforce losses, collective bargaining and claims quality
Summary
Committee members warned Dr. Karen Bridal that hiring freezes, voluntary separations and litigation over collective bargaining have reduced the VBA workforce and may harm claims quality; Bridal said she would assess workforce needs if confirmed.
Multiple senators told VA Undersecretary for Benefits nominee Dr. Karen Bridal that recent workforce changes and management decisions have harmed the Veterans Benefits Administration's ability to deliver benefits, and they pressed her to address staffing, morale and collective bargaining litigation.
Ranking Member Blumenthal told Bridal that the current administration "in effect, the workforce [has been] drastically cut through hiring freezes and demoralizing initiatives like forced overtime, an end to collective bargaining for the vast majority of the Veterans Administration workforce." He said…
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