VA Secretary Wilkie Issues Formal Letter To AFGE Leaders For Stereotyping US Veterans As Victims

Staff Reports

On Monday, January 14, the United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) released a letter from Secretary Robert Wilkie to the American Federation of Government Employees President J. David Cox.

The letter was in response to a statement made by AFGE Local President Edward M. Canales, according to ABC News and addressed the “misleading and insulting” stereotypes about Veterans in the United States.

Secretary Wilkie discussed the harm caused by stereotypes such as “Veteran as victim” to veterans referencing a comment made by Canales in the last week.

“If this shutdown does not stop, we are going to have fatalities. We’re going to have suicides,” AFGE Local President Edward M. Canales said.

In his letter, Wilkie said, “America’s Veterans are model citizens and leaders, and almost every American recognizes that. AFGE Local President Canales’ attempt to use Veterans as pawns in a political debate while exploiting the serious issue of Veteran suicide is nothing short of disgraceful.”

Secretary Wilkie has formally asked that a public apology be issued regarding the comment by Canales and that the organization outlines the steps it will take to prevent “reckless” comments by AFGE Leaders in the future.