Veterans Affairs Secretary David Shulkin made use of a new accountability law this week by firing the former medical director of Washington, D.C.'s VA hospital, the agency announced on Wednesday.

That former director, Brian Hawkins, had come under fire for allowing Washington's VA medical center to fall into a state of disarray. This year, the VA's watchdog revealed the preliminary results of an investigation that had uncovered dirty conditions, missing equipment and dangerous supply shortages at the facility Hawkins managed.

The VA fired Hawkins shortly after the findings emerged, based in part on the discovery that he had emailed his wife about the problems at his hospital. However, Hawkins appealed his removal to the Merit Systems Protection Board, which hears personnel cases for federal workers, and the VA was forced to rehire him when the board halted his termination.

According to a VA spokesman, the Board put a stay on Hawkins' initial firing, which prevented the VA from finalizing that decision. During that delay, the VA found new evidence against Hawkins, rescinded the first decision to fire him, and fired him again under the new authorities granted by the new law, which streamlines these decisions and makes it easier for the VA to take disciplinary action.

Shulkin touted Hawkins' successful firing on Wednesday as a signal that accountability legislation passed over the summer had begun to produce results for the VA.

"We at VA will use the authorities available to ensure our veterans get the highest quality service and care possible," Shulkin said in a statement. "This is the right decision for Veterans in D.C., and employees at the medical center, and underscores our commitment to hold employees accountable if they fail to do their jobs or live up to VA's values."

President Trump described the accountability he signed into law this year as "one of the largest reforms to the VA in its history."