U.S. Veterans Affairs Secretary Shinseki Resigns

WASHINGTON (AP/WOLO) — Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki has resigned amid widespread troubles in the VA health care system. President Barack Obama announced Shinseki’s resignation following an Oval Office meeting this morning, saying he accepted it with “considerable regret.” Shinseki’s resignation comes two days after a scathing internal report found broad and deep-seated problems in the sprawling VA health care system, which provides care to about 6.5 million veterans annually. Prior to resigning, Shinseki announced a series of steps to address what he described as an indefensible “breach of trust” in the VA’s health care system. Among those steps was the ouster of senior officials at the Phoenix VA hospital, where treatment delays were reportedly covered up. Shinseki says he believed that the problems had been isolated, but an inspector general’s report this week revealed such problems were systemic. ABC Columbia News is awaiting comment from Dorn VA representatives in Columbia about the impact of this resignation. We will have more on this story tonight on ABC Columbia News at 6:00.