The allegations over VA health care has led to a national outrage, and Obama is "madder than hell" about reports of U.S. veterans dying while awaiting health care and allegations that hospitals may have altered records to hide lengthy delays, White House Chief of Staff Denis McDonough said in an interview with CBS's "Face the Nation" May 18.

Veterans' vote

"When America thinks about its commitment to veterans about meeting their medical requirements, veterans shouldn't have to wonder whether that commitment will be fulfilled," Stanley McChrystal, the former commander of NATO forces in Afghanistan, said on NBC's "Today" program.

Obama should "fix what needs to be fixed" and should determine the facts "before you hold anyone accountable," McChrystal said.

In the 2008 election, Obama sought support from veterans and criticized the VA's administration. PolitiFact, a website that tracks campaign promises, documented 14 veterans-related campaign promises, which included reducing the backlog of medical care.

"A proud and grateful nation owes more than ceremonial gestures and kind words," Obama said in remarks to the VFW national convention in August 2007. "Caring for those who serve and for their families is a fundamental responsibility of the commander-in-chief."

More people have been hired since that time, PolitiFact said, but there's also been an increase in medical claims with the end of the war in Iraq and the winding down of the war in Afghanistan, the longest conflict in U.S. history.

The VA's Inspector General's office said yesterday that the number of facilities being investigated nationwide had expanded to 26, the Associated Press reported. Acting Inspector General Richard Griffin told a Senate committee last week that 10 facilities were being investigated.

The House may consider as early as today a bill to give Shinseki more power to fire people in about 450 positions who serve as hospital directors and executives if there's evidence of mismanagement or negligence.

Although the White House has maintained support for Shinseki, others have called for his resignation, including the American Legion and Republican Senators Richard Burr of North Carolina, John Cornyn of Texas and Jerry Moran of Kansas.

Promised transformation

Shinseki has said in television interviews that he shares Obama's commitment to fulfilling promises the government has made to veterans.

Shinseki, 71, a native of Hawaii, is a former Army chief of staff. He earned a Purple Heart and Bronze Star for his service in Vietnam. He left the military with the rank of four-star general.

In his confirmation hearing, Shinseki promised to "transform" the Department of Veterans Affairs.

He gained public attention in 2003, in the run-up to the Iraq invasion, for his remarks to Congress that the U.S. would need several hundred thousand troops to stabilize the country. Then-Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld rejected the number, saying no more than 150,000 troops would be needed. Rumsfeld cut short Shinseki's tenure as chief of staff.

The Veterans Health Administration operates the largest health-care system in the U.S., serving about 8.8 million patients annually at more than 1,700 hospitals, clinics and other facilities, according to the department's website.

With assistance from David Lerman, Greg Giroux, Angela Greiling Keane and Elizabeth Wasserman in Washington.

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