{"id":37590,"date":"2019-09-11T17:20:50","date_gmt":"2019-09-11T17:20:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/marinecorpstimes\/uncategorized\/2019\/09\/11\/after-a-long-wait-va-finally-has-a-deputy-secretary\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T07:34:24","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T07:34:24","slug":"after-a-long-wait-va-finally-has-a-deputy-secretary","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/marinecorpstimes\/veterans\/2019\/09\/11\/after-a-long-wait-va-finally-has-a-deputy-secretary\/","title":{"rendered":"After a long wait, VA finally has a deputy secretary"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Senate lawmakers on Wednesday confirmed James Byrne<\/a> for the second-highest post at the Department of Veterans Affairs, officially filling a key leadership vacancy after an absence of more than a year<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Byrne, a former Marine infantry officer who previously served as VA\u2019s general counsel, was approved for the post by a 81-11 vote. His nomination has been pending since April, but he has been serving in the post as acting director since August 2018.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A day earlier, speaking on behalf of the nomination, Senate Veterans\u2019 Affairs Committee ranking member Jon Tester<\/a>, D-Mont., acknowledged that Byrne \u201chas ruffled feathers among some here\u201d in his dealings with Democratic lawmakers on implementation of the VA Mission Act and other department priorities. But said he still supported the acting deputy for the permanent job.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIn the end, I think he will do the right thing and that we can hold him accountable,\u201d Tester said. \u201cIt is critically important we get these folks confirmed so we can hold them accountable and get them in front of our committee.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\t