I am a former employee, of Environmental Management Services, within the Greater Los Angeles Veterans Health Administration. Along with many of my former colleagues, I have either personally experienced or am closely connected to someone who has been subjected to various forms of inappropriate and illegal behavior at the hands of the service Chief, the Assistant Chief and several subordinate staff in their employ. This includes discrimination based on sex, race, or disability status; verbal harassment; whistleblower retaliation; intimidation tactics used by superiors; time and attendance fraud and wrongful termination.

The time for change is now! We must hold supervisors and senior leadership in the Veterans Health Administration accountable for covering up wrongdoing. It's unacceptable that those entrusted with caring for VA employees can perpetuate a toxic work environment without consequence.

Sadly, such chronic issues persist within our establishment as well as throughout the entire VA network, with much-disregarded severity at the Greater Los Angeles VA branch. Herein is evidence that several officials overseeing EMS operations engage in fraudulent activities. These include misappropriation of government funds for personal gain. Furthermore, they employ derogatory language, such as using the "F Word" when addressing their LGBTQIA employees, and actively discriminate against those with hearing impairments, deliberately preventing them from enjoying the same opportunities as hearing employees.

We call upon policymakers to introduce a new rule stating federal employees cannot be terminated after making a complaint if they have not been disciplined or counseled before filing the complaint; many whistleblowers are good employees with blemish-free disciplinary records until a manager acting in bad faith creates one in retaliation. This will provide more protection for whistleblowers and impose harsher consequences on those who attempt to silence them.

According to a 2019 report by the Government Accountability Office (GAO), 18 percent of VA employees reported experiencing some form of workplace discrimination, while 14 percent reported being harassed (GAO-19-572). These figures are staggering and highlight this institution's urgent need for reform.

By signing this petition, you're sending a clear message that unethical behavior will not be tolerated in any organization tasked with serving our veterans - especially not from those at its helm. Stand with us today as we fight against injustice and strive towards creating an inclusive, respectful working environment within the Veterans Health Administration. Please sign this petition today!