A psychologist employed by the department has been disciplined for taking a stance against gender ideology, The Washington Stand has learned.
The Stand reported last week that three psychologists working for the VA authored an opinion piece in late January warning of the dangers of allowing biological men to be present in women's spaces such as bathrooms and exam rooms in veterans facilities.
Dr. Nina Silander, a primary care psychologist, was placed on administrative leave following the publication of the op-ed, according to documents obtained by The Stand.
In a letter to her own senators and representatives, Silander said she was "put on administrative leave due to patient care/safety concerns, which are entirely unsubstantiated given the reality that I have provided quality veteran services and received no complaints to date."
She added that her co-authors "anticipate facing similar repercussions."
Rosendale and Rep. Eli Crane (R-Arizona) earlier this month wrote a letter to Denis McDonough, Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs, expressing concerns about the rise of DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion) within the VA. Rosendale and Crane are both members of the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
The congressmen contend increased emphasis on DEI will lead to worse care for veterans, make employees feel ostracized, and lead to potential violations of the Hatch Act, federal law since 1939 that prohibits certain political activities among government employees.
"We do know that the Veterans Administration has been trying to promote DEI standards within the organization. What really bothers me is when they're allowing [biological] men who are confused and think that they are women, to be sharing the same spaces as women," Rosendale said on Washington Watch Friday.
"Some of these women have been sexually assaulted; they've been extremely stressed. We have already invested incredible amounts of money to make sure that our women veterans, when they go into these facilities, that they feel safe, that they feel included, that they have special spaces just for them because of the things they've gone through," Rosendale added.
DEI initiatives go 'beyond belief'
In addition to violations of women's spaces, VA DEI initiatives include a one-hour "Racial Caucuses" session that Rosendale and Crane say is "designed to discuss oppression and privilege and engage in anti-racism activism" in separate racial groups.
The VA has also created an "empowerment group" that is open only to non-white veterans who believe they have been exposed to racism.
Rosendale told show host Jody Hice that too many advancements have been made within the VA for the Biden administration to turn back the clock.
"To think the Veterans Administration is going to turn that on its head and start opening up those doors to men who think they're women – or worse yet, for nefarious actions that they are just claiming to think they're women – is beyond anyone's belief," he said.
"We're trying to do everything we can to make sure this doesn't take place."
