Top U.S. army official quits amid military hospital scandal
U.S. Army Secretary Francis J. Harvey abruptly stepped down Friday as the government struggled to cope with the fallout from a scandal over the poor conditions for war-wounded soldiers at a medical centre in Washington, D.C.
Harvey's departure, announced on short notice by a visibly agitated Defence Secretary Robert Gates, was the most dramatic move in an escalating removal of officials with responsibilities over the Walter Reed Army Medical Center, one of the military's highest-profile and busiest facilities.
The actions come after the Washington Post documented squalid living conditions for some outpatient soldiers at Walter Reed and bureaucratic problems that prevented many troops from getting adequate care.
On Friday,U.S. President George W. Bush ordered a comprehensive review of conditions at the nation's network of military and veteran hospitals, which has been overwhelmed by injured troops from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Gates said Friday that Harvey had resigned, but senior defence officials speaking on condition of anonymity claimed Gates had privately demanded that Harvey leave.
Gates was displeased with the officer that Harvey had chosen as interim commander of Walter Reed — Lt.-Gen. Kevin Kiley.
Kiley, the current army surgeon general and a former commander of Walter Reed, has been accused by critics of long knowing about the problems at the medical centre and not improving outpatient care.
"I am disappointed that some in the army have not adequately appreciated the seriousness of the situation pertaining to outpatient care at Walter Reed," Gates said in the Pentagon briefing room. He took no questions from reporters.
Harvey was at Fort Benning, Ga., on Friday morning when he cut short his visit to return to Washington to meet with Gates.
In an interview in his office shortly after the announcement, Harvey said he offered Gates his resignation because he believed the army let the wounded soldiers down. He said the furor has depressed the staff at Walter Reed.
His last day in the job will be March 9.
Peter Geren, the undersecretary of the army, will serve as Harvey's temporary replacement until Bush nominates a new secretary.
As army secretary, Harvey is the service's top civilian official but he commands no troops.
The army announced Friday that Maj.-Gen. Eric B. Schoomaker, 58, will be the new commander of Walter Reed.
"From what I have learned, the problems at Walter Reed appear to be problems of leadership," Gates said.
Harvey has been army secretary since November 2004. He is the second consecutive army secretary to be removed abruptly from office.
In April 2003,then Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld fired Thomas White, who had engaged in public disputes with Rumsfeld.