A Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) official has been reassigned after computer problems delayed GI Bill payments to hundreds of thousands of veterans, according to a report by NBC News.

Robert Worley, executive director of the VA's education service, was reassigned over the issue, NBC reported, citing two sources and an email it reviewed. Worley was given a choice of 52 regional offices to lead, but he was told he had to leave his current position.

The move was confirmed to NBC by a GOP spokeswoman for the House Veterans Affairs Committee, where Worley is expected to testify on Thursday.

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One former official told NBC that Worley's departure gave higher-ups an out.

"It allows him to take a bullet [at the committee hearing] for the undersecretary,” the former official said.

Worley's move was announced internally Friday, NBC reports.

VA Undersecretary for Benefits Paul Lawrence also will testify Thursday afternoon along with Bill James and John Galvin, officials from the VA's Office of Information & Technology.

Richard Crowe, the senior vice president of Booz Allen Hamilton, who is the information contractor who worked on the Forever GI Bill, will also testify.