The Veterans Affairs Department has fired the official at the heart of the schedule falsification and patient care scandal, according to an agency announcement.

The VA removed Sharon Helman, the director of the Phoenix Healthcare System, from her position for a lack of oversight and other misconduct, which shows the VA's commitment to ensuring accountability in its workforce, the agency said in a statement.

"Lack of oversight and misconduct by VA leaders runs counter to our mission of serving Veterans, and VA will not tolerate it," VA secretary Robert McDonald said. "We depend on VA employees and leaders to put the needs of veterans first and honor VA's core values of 'integrity, commitment, advocacy, respect and excellence.'"

The VA has been reeling from investigations showing the agency falsified waiting lists in order to boost performance ratings, harming its patients and forcing veterans to wait months for medical care - a scandal that originally focused on the Phoenix health care system before expanding across the country. The scandal led to the resignation of then-secretary Eric Shinseki, and to widespread reforms at the agency, including new firing authorities.

McDonald has been under intense pressure from Congress to fire more people at VA more quickly. And, in particular, there has been criticism from some lawmakers for taking so long to fire Helman, who was on administrative leave for more than 200 days.

Jeff Miller, R- Fla., chairman of the House Veterans Committee, said the agency will never regain the trust of veterans and Americans until it fires all of the senior executives responsible for the scandal.

"Sharon Helman's removal is a positive step, but there are still many more VA scandal figures who also must be purged from the department's payroll in order for veterans and families to receive the closure they deserve," Miller said.

Her firing is"long overdue" and will help to restore trust between veterans and their health care system, according to American Legion National Commander Michael Helm.

"Since it came to light that as many as 40 veterans in Phoenix lost their lives while their names languished on secret lists, The American Legion has been demanding accountability from those responsible," Helm said.

But while Helman's firing was important the agency needs to do more to restore its reputation, including additional firings and even criminal charges for anyone who helped denied care to veterans.

"The termination of one director does not end this scandal, but it is a step," Helm said.

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