New acting director for Montana VA

The Montana Veterans Affairs has a new acting director, but not a permanent director.

Trena Bonde has been selected to replace John Ginnity, who served as acting director since June.

Bonde is the chief of staff at Montana VA.

Federal law restricts the number of days a position can be held by an acting medical center director to 120 days with a one-time extension of 120 days.

Ginnity had reached that limit as acting director and will now return to his job as associate director of Montana VA.

“VA Montana has been without a Director for so long that it’s out of time. If that isn’t a sign, I don’t know what is. Our veterans deserve better. It’s past time the VA got its act together and hired a permanent director,” Sen. Jon Tester said Tuesday afternoon.

According to Montana VA, the delegation of authority to Bonde is temporary and does not signal a decision about the permanent position.

“We have full confidence in Johnny Ginnity and he has done outstanding work for Veterans and the VA Montana Health Care System,” said Ralph Gigliotti, Veterans Integrated Service Network 19 Director, in a press release. Gigliotti oversees healthcare in six states.

Sen. Steve Daines also expressed his frustration with the lack of permanent director.

“Montana’s veterans have waited long enough. It’s time for a permanent director of VA Montana to be named,” Daines said in a release. “It is deeply troubling that VA Montana — which provides critical services to our veterans — has gone without permanent leadership since June of last year. I implore VA Secretary McDonald to quickly name a new, permanent director so that Montana’s veterans can receive the best care possible and the services they deserve.”

Daines and Tester have sent letters to Bob McDonald, VA Secretary, asking that he ensure a permanent director is quickly named.

McDonald is expected to visit Montana VA this spring, according to Tester’s office.