VA Health Chief John Bartrum Resigns After Less Than Seven Months
Veterans Affairs Under Secretary for Health John Bartrum resigned on July 6, 2026, after less than seven months in the role, citing family and health reasons. Bartrum, the first non-physician to hold the post, oversaw the VA’s massive healthcare system serving 9 million veterans. Dr. Lee Payne, a retired Air Force major general and physician, was named acting replacement. Bartrum’s departure leaves two of three VA under secretary positions vacant, highlighting ongoing leadership instability.
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VA's top health administrator departs post, temporary replacement named
Veterans Affairs Under Secretary for Health John Bartrum resigned after less than seven months on the job, effective July 6, 2026. Bartrum, a retired Air Force Reserve major general and the first non-physician to hold the post, did not specify a reason beyond focusing on family and health. He was nominated by President Trump and confirmed in December 2025. Dr. Lee Payne, a retired Air Force major general and physician currently serving as deputy under secretary for health, will serve as acting under secretary. Payne previously managed the Defense Department's electronic health record modernization and COVID-19 diagnostics. Bartrum's departure leaves two of the VA's three under secretary positions vacant, as the administration has not yet nominated a candidate for the benefits post.
Navy TimesVA's Top Health Administrator Departs; Temporary Replacement Named
Veterans Affairs Under Secretary for Health John Bartrum resigned after less than seven months on the job, effective July 6, 2026. Bartrum, a retired Air Force Reserve major general and the first non-physician to hold the post, cited a desire to focus on family and health. He was nominated by President Trump in June 2025 and confirmed in December 2025. Dr. Lee Payne, a retired Air Force major general and physician currently serving as deputy under secretary for health, will serve as acting under secretary. Payne previously managed the Defense Department's electronic health record modernization and COVID-19 diagnostics. Bartrum's departure leaves two of the VA's three under secretary positions vacant, as the nominee for under secretary for benefits withdrew in October 2025.
Military TimesVA's top health administrator departs post, temporary replacement named
Veterans Affairs Under Secretary for Health John Bartrum resigned after less than seven months on the job, effective July 7, 2026. Bartrum, a retired Air Force Reserve major general and the first non-physician to hold the post, cited a desire to focus on family and health. He was confirmed by the Senate in December 2025. Dr. Lee Payne, a retired Air Force major general and physician who served as deputy under secretary for health, will serve as acting under secretary. Payne previously managed the Defense Department's electronic health record modernization and COVID-19 diagnostics. Bartrum's departure leaves two of the department's three under secretary positions vacant.
Air Force TimesVA's top health administrator departs post, temporary replacement named
Veterans Affairs Under Secretary for Health John Bartrum left his job on July 6, 2026, after less than seven months in the role. Bartrum, a retired Air Force Reserve major general and the first non-physician to hold the post, announced his resignation to staff on June 30, citing a desire to focus on family and health while supporting administration efforts in the private sector. He was nominated by President Trump in June 2025 and confirmed in December 2025. Dr. Lee Payne, a retired Air Force major general and physician currently serving as deputy under secretary for health, will serve as acting under secretary. Payne has extensive experience in military medicine, including commanding three hospitals and managing the DoD's electronic health record modernization and COVID-19 diagnostics. Bartrum's departure leaves two of the department's three under secretary positions vacant, as the under secretary for benefits post remains unfilled after nominee Karen Brazell withdrew in October 2025.
Military TimesVA's top health administrator departs post, temporary replacement named
Veterans Affairs Under Secretary for Health John Bartrum left his job Monday after less than seven months in the role, announcing his resignation to staff on June 30 without providing a specific reason other than focusing on family and health. Bartrum, a retired Air Force Reserve major general, was the first under secretary of health without a physician background, overseeing 171 medical centers and over 1,000 outpatient clinics serving 9 million veterans. He cited accomplishments including the electronic health record modernization program and reorganization of the Veterans Health Administration. Dr. Lee Payne, a retired Air Force major general and physician currently serving as deputy under secretary for health, will serve as acting under secretary. Payne previously commanded three military hospitals and managed the DoD's diagnostics during the COVID-19 pandemic. Bartrum's departure leaves two of the department's three under secretary positions open.
Army TimesVA's Top Health Administrator Departs Post, Temporary Replacement Named
Veterans Affairs Under Secretary for Health John Bartrum left his position after less than seven months, announcing his resignation to staff on June 30 without providing a specific reason, citing a desire to focus on family and health while supporting administration efforts in the private sector. Bartrum, a retired Air Force Reserve major general and the first under secretary without a physician background, oversaw the nation's largest medical system serving 9 million veterans. Dr. Lee Payne, a retired Air Force major general and deputy under secretary for health, will serve as acting under secretary. Payne has experience in internal and emergency medicine, military hospital command, and the Defense Department's electronic health record modernization. Bartrum's departure leaves two of the department's three under secretary positions open, with no candidate announced for the benefits post.
Navy TimesVA's top health administrator departs post, temporary replacement named
Veterans Affairs Under Secretary for Health John Bartrum left his job after less than seven months, citing a desire to focus on family and health. Bartrum, a retired Air Force Reserve major general without a physician background, was confirmed in December 2024. He oversaw the VA's massive healthcare system serving 9 million veterans. Dr. Lee Payne, a retired Air Force major general and physician, will serve as acting under secretary. Bartrum's departure leaves two of the department's three under secretary positions vacant.
Marine Corps TimesVA's top health administrator departs post, temporary replacement named
Veterans Affairs Under Secretary for Health John Bartrum left his job on July 6, 2026, after less than seven months in the role. Bartrum, a retired Air Force Reserve major general and the first non-physician to hold the position, announced his resignation to staff on June 30, citing a desire to focus on family and health while supporting administration efforts in the private sector. He oversaw the VA's largest medical system, including 171 medical centers and over 1,000 outpatient clinics serving 9 million veterans. Dr. Lee Payne, a retired Air Force major general and physician currently serving as deputy under secretary for health, will serve as acting under secretary. Payne previously commanded three military hospitals and managed the DoD's electronic health record modernization program. Bartrum's departure leaves two of the department's three under secretary positions vacant, as the administration has not announced a candidate for the under secretary for benefits position.
Marine Corps TimesVA's top health administrator departs post, temporary replacement named
Dr. John Bartrum, the Veterans Affairs Under Secretary for Health, resigned after less than seven months on the job, effective July 7, 2026. Bartrum, a retired Air Force Reserve major general and the first non-physician to hold the post, did not specify reasons for leaving beyond focusing on family and health. He oversaw the VA's massive healthcare system serving 9 million veterans. Dr. Lee Payne, a retired Air Force major general and physician currently serving as deputy under secretary for health, will serve as acting under secretary. Payne has extensive experience in military medicine, including managing the DoD's electronic health record modernization and COVID-19 diagnostics. Bartrum's departure leaves two of the department's three under secretary positions vacant, with no nominee announced for the benefits post.
Army TimesVA's top health administrator departs post, temporary replacement named
Veterans Affairs Under Secretary for Health John Bartrum left his job Monday after less than seven months, announcing his resignation to staff on June 30 without providing a specific reason other than focusing on family and health. Bartrum, a retired Air Force Reserve major general, was the first under secretary of health without a physician background, overseeing 171 medical centers and over 1,000 outpatient clinics serving 9 million veterans. He was nominated by President Trump and confirmed in December. Dr. Lee Payne, a retired Air Force major general and current deputy under secretary for health, will serve as acting under secretary. Payne has experience in internal and emergency medicine, commanded military hospitals, and managed the DoD's electronic health record modernization program. Bartrum's departure leaves two of the department's three under secretary positions open.
Navy Times