Salt Lake City VA Inspection 2026: Most Surveyed Staff Disagree Culture Is Headed the Right Way, OIG Finds
By VA Headlines staff · Published Oct 30, 2026 · Source document dated October 29, 2026
Employees at the VA Salt Lake City Healthcare System told federal inspectors they lack trust in the facility's executive leaders, according to a VA Office of Inspector General (OIG) report published October 29, 2026.
The OIG inspected the Salt Lake City system from April 20 through 23, 2026, and followed up with staff in August 2026. The facility is rated highest complexity and, in fiscal year 2025, provided direct care to about 82,000 veterans.
The report states: "More than half of the respondents to the OIG questionnaire disagreed or strongly disagreed that the facility's culture was moving in the right direction, and over 40 percent did not feel comfortable suggesting actions to improve their work environment." Half of respondents identified poor executive leadership as a reason for leaving the facility, while the VA mission and pay and benefits were among the reasons employees stay.
The OIG team "found a lack of trust and psychological safety" between some employees and the executive leadership team, contrary to principles in VHA's High Reliability Organization guidance.
According to the director comments in the report, the facility had 4 years of rotating temporary leadership in the Chief of Staff position before the current Chief of Staff was hired in February 2026. The report also notes that when a position-limit directive was issued in November 2025, the facility had nearly 400 part-time employees; leaders reviewed positions, eliminated vacant ones and planned to reach the limit through normal attrition, and held town halls to communicate the changes.
The OIG made one recommendation, to the Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN) Director: ensure executive leaders establish trust and a culture of safety, in line with VHA's High Reliability Organization Reference Guide. The VISN Director concurred. The target date for completion is March 31, 2027.
The OIG's inspections look at culture because staff who don't feel safe speaking up are less likely to flag problems that affect patient care.
Related: Chicago VA community care wait times inspection. How we report: Methodology & Corrections.
Inspection of the VA Salt Lake City Healthcare System in Utah
Report 26-00685-08 · October 29, 2026
Read the official document (PDF) · Report page
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