Gov. Ivey calls for resignation of Alabama veteran affairs commissioner

On Thursday, Alabama Governor Kay Ivey requested the resignation of W. Kent Davis, the commissioner of the Alabama Department of Veterans Affairs, due to alleged mishandling of federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) grant funds. In a letter addressed to Davis, Ivey cited significant delays in proposing eligible uses for the grant funds, which she claimed were not in compliance with U.S. Treasury regulations and state law. The letter was made public by the governor's office, indicating the seriousness of the situation. Davis did not respond to the resignation request on the same day, prompting Ivey to express her readiness to take further action, although her office did not specify what those actions might entail. The Alabama Department of Veterans Affairs is responsible for assisting military veterans and their dependents, and the commissioner is appointed by the State Board of Veterans Affairs, which is chaired by Ivey herself. The controversy surrounding the grant funds has been compounded by a previous ethics complaint filed by Davis against Kim Boswell, the Department of Mental Health Commissioner, during a dispute over the same funds. This complaint was ultimately dismissed. State Senator Greg Albritton, who co-chairs the Legislature’s ARPA Oversight Committee, stated that he was unaware of any improper spending of the funds, although he acknowledged that some grant money had been retracted by the state due to non-compliance with ARPA guidelines. The situation raises concerns about the management of federal funds intended to support veterans, highlighting the need for accountability and transparency in the administration of such programs. The outcome of this request for resignation and any subsequent actions by the governor's office will be closely monitored by both the public and state officials.