Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Doug Collins told the House Committee on Veterans Affairs Wednesday that the North Battlefield VA Clinic in Chesapeake did not meet his announced deadline to be at full staff by January.
The clinic has hired 335 out of 534 staffers. Another 199 vacant positions have not been filled. Collins had said at the groundbreaking ceremony in April that the clinic would be up to full staff by January, even though the facility opened with only 150 staffers.
“Mr. Secretary, do you believe the decisions made by the administration regarding hiring freezes, proposed layoffs in the tens of thousands, termination of collective bargaining agreements and other personnel actions have adversely affected your ability to recruit personnel?” asked U.S. Rep. Bobby Scott.
Collins responded that the VA has the same hiring challenges as other hospital systems.
“I think we face the same struggles as everyone and that is finding the right people, having enough come out and actually being able to pay a competitive wage,” Collins said.
Despite the staff shortage, the Chesapeake clinic is offering all of the services it was scheduled to provide when it opened last year, Collins said.
The clinic offers primary care and physical therapy, as well as mental health services, dental services and radiology. The $62 million facility is next to Chesapeake Regional Healthcare near Battlefield Boulevard.
Hampton Roads has one of the largest veteran populations in the country. The population is growing fastest on the south side of the James River, though the main hospital is in Hampton. In December, the VA announced the site for another clinic, Norfolk Premium Outlets in Virginia Beach.
The VA is about to begin recruiting for a permanent replacement for Hampton VA Executive Director Dr. Taquisa Simmons, who was reassigned in July 2024, during the Biden administration. The hospital system has been run under a series of interim directors during the first year of the Trump administration. Dr. Sharee Taylor is the current interim executive director.
“We still do not have a director position that's filled. It would be great to put new leadership in place,” said U.S. Rep. Jen Kiggans.
The VA will begin advertising the position in the next two weeks. There are several VA health systems operating with interim leaders, Collins said.
“What we're having to do right now, though, is, frankly, because we've not done a good pipeline, we're having to move some people in to fill gaps while we develop that pipeline. But that's, that's my top goal, is to get those permanent,” he said.
