Quick Hits Citizen satisfaction with government service continues to drop, according to the latest rankings from the
American Customer Satisfaction Index. Their 2020 report on the federal government released Feb. 8 showed a drop of 4.4% to 65.1 out of 100. The Departments of Commerce and Agriculture were high scorers among government agencies; Treasury and the Social Security Administration scored the lowest. The survey measures citizen perceptions of ease of government processes, clarity of government information, website quality and the professionalism of government customer service. Former White House Chief of Staff
Denis McDonough was confirmed by the Senate to lead the
Department of Veterans Affairs. The vote was 87-7. McDonough will become just the second non-veteran to lead the agency.
New VA secretary promises unity around work to reform veterans programs February 9 Vice President Kamala Harris (right,) bumps elbows with Kari McDonough, after ceremonially swearing in McDonough s husband, Denis (far left) as the Veterans Affairs Secretary on Feb. 9, 2021, at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building on the White House complex in Washington, D.C. Behind them are McDonough s sons. (Jacquelyn Martin/AP) In his first message to veterans and department staff since his confirmation, Veterans Affairs Secretary Denis McDonough promised to base all of his decisions around “whether it increases veterans’ access to care and benefits and improves outcomes for them” as he takes on the task of reforming the massive federal bureaucracy.
McDonough s Nomination for VA Secretary Advances
Then White House Chief of Staff Denis McDonough delivers remarks at a farewell ceremony for outgoing Deputy Defense Secretary Ash Carter at the Pentagon, Dec. 2, 2013. (Dept. of Defense/Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Daniel Hinton)
2 Feb 2021
Former White House Chief of Staff Denis McDonough is one step closer to leading the Department of Veterans Affairs.
The Senate Veterans Affairs Committee unanimously approved his nomination, sending it to the full Senate for a vote. Senate leaders have not announced when they plan to bring the nomination to the Senate floor.
During a meeting Tuesday, committee Chairman Sen. Jon Tester, D-Mont., said McDonough has demonstrated an exemplary commitment to public service and a deep understanding that taking care of our veterans is a cost of war.
How the new Congress and the Biden administration can restore faith in the VA January 26 The Department of Veterans Affairs building is seen in Washington on July 22, 2019. (Alastair Pike/AFP via Getty Images) The last four years have been tumultuous for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). In that time, the department responsible for serving our veterans has confronted a global pandemic, provided its Fourth Mission support to serve as our country’s backup health-care system, and confronted natural disasters that tested VA’s ability to continue caring for veterans during the public health emergency. During the previous administration, VA targeted whistleblowers for retaliation, questioned and diminished survivors of sexual harassment and assault, expressed hostility towards organized labor, and obstructed Congress’ oversight efforts. Despite these challenges and setbacks, it is with hope and optimism that I look forward to working with Secretary-designate Denis M