WASHINGTON — The Department of Veterans Affairs says the agency’s chief of staff has stepped down after an investigation found she had doctored emails to justify Secretary David Shulkin’s wife accompanying him on a European trip at taxpayer expense.

The internal investigation by the department’s inspector general found “serious derelictions” by Shulkin and his staff and urged administrative action against Chief of Staff Vivieca Wright Simpson.

Veterans Affairs spokesman Curt Cashour says Simpson “elected to retire” and the VA is opening a formal investigation into her actions.

Cashour says President Trump has made clear he expects VA leaders to hold themselves and other employees accountable when they don’t live up to standards veterans and taxpayers deserve.

Shulkin has said he would pay back more than $4,000 for his wife’s airfare.