The Government Accountability Office released an audit on Wednesday that looked at harassment allegations in the VA’s health care system. The report showed a significant increase in reports of harassment at VA facilities over a six-year period. (Stars and Stripes)
WASHINGTON — A federal watchdog that examined more than 31,000 alleged incidents of harassment at Department of Veterans Affairs facilities is warning that reports of unwanted and inappropriate behavior at VA medical centers have increased significantly over six years.
The incidents included reports by veterans against VA staff or other veterans, as well as VA staff alleging harassment by veterans.
The Government Accountability Office released an audit on Wednesday that looked at reports of harassment-related incidents involving veterans in the VA health care system.
Many of the reported incidents involved veterans with dementia or other cognitive disorders, depression, anxiety or alcohol intoxication, the report said.
For this audit, GAO investigators reviewed harassment allegations at VA facilities from fiscal years 2020 through 2025. Incidents were reported at 140 VA medical centers.
Investigators said that most of the reported incidents — more than 24,000 — involved veterans or other patients allegedly engaged in harassing behavior against VA staff.
The reported incidents occurred in different settings at VA medical complexes, including outpatient clinics, patient hospital rooms and common areas.
Annual reports of non-sexual harassment incidents climbed from 583 in 2020 to 2,285 in 2025.
Sexual harassment complaints increased from 1,701 in 2020 to 3,967 in 2025.
Reports of alleged sexual assault grew from 307 in 2020 to 676 in 2025.
The increases in reported incidents may be due to a greater willingness by individuals to notify VA staff, an overall rise in incidents themselves and other factors, the report said.
But investigators also warned that the data “likely do not capture all incidents because, according to stakeholders, most individuals do not notify staff at the institution at which these behaviors occurred about their experiences.”
“This may be, for example, due to individuals’ beliefs that the behavior will not be addressed or fear of retaliation,” according to the report.
Investigators suggested that the VA conduct a survey to better understand the prevalence of harassment in the VA health care system.
VA policies designate certain staff to manage and document reports of harassment, sexual harassment and sexual assault involving veterans.
This includes incidents involving veterans who experience harassment by other veterans or VA staff, as well as VA staff who experience harassment by veterans.
VA policy designates its police force as responsible for documenting and investigating allegations of sexual assault.
The VA also has what is known as the Disruptive Behavior Reporting System, which enables staff to report physical and verbal behaviors that cause safety concerns.
The report concluded that veterans who experience harassment at a VA facility may not return there for necessary health care.
Likewise, staff targeted for unwanted or inappropriate behaviors from veterans may rush the delivery of care.
A 2022 report by The Joint Commission, which licenses hospitals, found that staff often do not report incidents of workplace harassment, threats and violence.
Health care staff may not make a report because it is time consuming, the patient is mentally impaired, there is fear of retaliation or there is a belief that it will not lead to improvements.
