VA health secretary quits less than a year into tenure

July 2, 2026 - 04:03

John Bartrum, the official who oversaw the Veterans Health Administration's troubled rollout of a new electronic health records system, has resigned from his post less than a year after taking the job. Bartrum announced his departure from public service on Monday, citing personal reasons for the abrupt exit. He had been appointed to lead the agency in early 2024, tasked with fixing a multibillion-dollar modernization project that has faced repeated delays, cost overruns, and complaints from medical staff.

The electronic health records overhaul, intended to replace outdated systems across the Department of Veterans Affairs, has been plagued by technical glitches and workflow disruptions since its initial deployment in 2020. Bartrum, a former health care executive, had promised to bring private-sector efficiency to the effort. However, internal reports and congressional hearings continued to highlight problems with patient data migration and system reliability.

Veterans advocacy groups expressed frustration with the leadership change, arguing that it signals ongoing instability in the VA's technology strategy. The department has not yet named an interim replacement, leaving the future of the modernization program uncertain. Bartrum's resignation marks the latest in a series of high-level departures within the VA since the project began.