Facing strong Capitol Hill criticism for poor management of big hospital projects, the Dept. of Veterans Affairs now is open to considering transferring that part of its construction program to the Army Corps of Engineers, a top VA official says.
Testifying at a House Veterans Affairs Committee hearing on Jan. 21, VA Deputy Secretary Sloan D. Gibson said he’s “perfectly willing” for the VA to examine shifting the major-hospital construction program to the Corps. The decision on whether to make such a dramatic change has not yet been made, however. Gibson, a former Army officer and head of the USO, moved into the No. 2 VA post about a year ago.