Birmingham, Ala. WIAT — After days of internal conflict, the head of the Alabama Department of Veterans Affairs, Kent Davis, has resigned.
On Monday, Governor Kay Ivey’s staff confirmed that Davis, who had led the department since 2019, met with her and submitted his resignation, effective December 31. His resignation follows Ivey’s request for him to step down due to allegations that he mishandled American Rescue Plan Act funds and failed to consult her office on certain matters.
After Davis resigned, Governor Ivey released a statement, saying:
Caring for veterans has been a priority for me throughout my time as lieutenant governor and governor. Our meeting with Commissioner Davis was respectful and provided valuable insights. I appreciate his service and his decision to do what’s best for the state and the future of the Department of Veterans Affairs. We have important work to continue, especially in improving care for veterans.
Earlier, Davis had declined Ivey’s request to resign, arguing that he had been transparent about how the department was being run. In response, Ivey scheduled a special meeting for Tuesday to have the State Board of Veterans Affairs vote on his removal. However, the meeting has now been canceled.
Before Ivey’s request, Davis had filed an ethics complaint against Kim Boswell, head of the Department of Mental Health, accusing her and others of blocking $7 million in funds for the Veterans Affairs Department. The complaint was dismissed.