Image still from the hearing
During a Senate oversight hearing this week, U.S. Senator Jerry Moran raised serious concerns about ongoing mismanagement at the Veterans Crisis Line (VCL), a critical support service for veterans in crisis.
Sen. Moran revealed that nearly two years ago, during a separate hearing on suicide prevention, his office received a call from a whistleblower reporting a potential cover-up involving the VCL.
“My office had multiple conversations with this whistleblower. Those meetings led to several other VA employees coming forward to speak with my staff about their firsthand experiences, sharing troubling details about mismanagement at the Veterans Crisis line,” said Sen. Moran. “They spoke of policies and practices that may be leading veterans in critical need of support at an increased risk for harm to self or others. I’d like to thank every individual who bravely stepped forward and contacted our office to share those concerning accounts.”
That whistleblower, Brad Combs, a former lead internal auditor, helped bring forward additional employees who shared details about leadership failures and unsafe practices that may have put veterans at greater risk.
Following extensive review of disclosures and interviews, Sen. Moran requested a Government Accountability Office audit in November 2023. The findings, released during this week’s hearing, highlighted systemic issues.
Sen. Moran criticized the VA for failing to complete its internal investigation or hold anyone accountable after 21 months. He urged immediate action to ensure the VCL remains a trusted and effective resource for veterans and their families.
