The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) official who issued a ban on an iconic World War II photograph will not be fired, the agency’s top official says.
“Rima has dedicated her career to serving veterans. We are fortunate to have her at VA, and she will remain at VA,” Denis McDonough, the VA secretary, told The Epoch Times.
RimaAnn Nelson, the VA’s assistant undersecretary for operations, directed VA facilities in February to remove a picture showing a sailor and a nurse kissing in New York City on Aug. 14, 1945, after Japan surrendered to the Allies. The day is known as the effective end of World War II.
Ms. Nelson said the removal stemmed from a bid “to foster a more trauma-informed environment that promotes the psychological safety of our employees and the veterans that we serve.”
The late Greta Friedman, who has identified herself as the nurse in the picture, has said she didn’t choose to be kissed by the sailor, which means the act falls under the current definition of sexual assault, according to the memo.
It did not mention how Ms. Friedman later got back together with George Mendonsa, the sailor, for a reenactment or how the pair exchanged Christmas cards over the years.
After the memo was made public this week, Mr. McDonough said on March 6 that the picture “is not banned from VA facilities, and we will keep it in VA facilities.”
Call for Termination
Sen. Steve Daines (R-Mont.) and Rep. Ryan Zinke (R-Mont.) later called for Ms. Nelson’s termination, describing the ban on the picture as a “politically driven” move.“Sadly, this pursuit was only the most recent in a long line of misguided actions and woke agendas dictating the management of the VA. It is alarming that this is not only a common occurrence under your leadership, but a reoccurring theme under this administration of politics being a focal point of the VA instead of a veteran-centric mission,” they wrote in a letter to Mr. McDonough.
They asked for answers, including how the memo was drafted and what other memos Ms. Nelson has promulgated. They noted that the memo came as the VA struggles with retaining staff members and recruiting new ones.
The members of Congress later added: “The VA needs to reassess its priorities and start putting veterans at the center of their everyday operating posture. This cannot begin to happen with leadership structures advocating political policies over veteran priorities and those responsible for this misguided memo need to be held accountable, starting with the termination of Ms. Nelson’s employment at the VA.”
The watchdog confirmed 215 patients died while waiting for appointments, although it also said it was “unable to conclusively assert that the absence of timely quality care caused the deaths of these veterans.”
When Ms. Nelson was named in 2016 to lead the Phoenix VA, lawmakers from both parties expressed concerns about her record.
“To think that Ms. Nelson, with her less-than-impressive past, is the best possible candidate to provide crucial leadership for the facility equated to ‘ground zero’ of the VA scandal is unequivocally offensive to us and each of the veterans we represent,” Reps. Ann Kirkpatrick (D-Ariz.), Paul Gosar (R-Ariz.), and other lawmakers wrote at the time.
The VA responded by saying it stood by its decision. Ms. Nelson was later elevated to her current position.
