DEI, Louis Vuitton, And Casino Chips: Inside A Billion-Dollar VA Scandal
By Leif Le Mahieu
Published on April 11, 2026.
John Windom, a senior official at the Department of Veteran Affairs (VA), has been charged with concealing material facts, false statements, and falsifying a record. He is accused of manipulating the VA's electronic health records system to increase its diversity profile and influence government contractors. Windom allegedly formed a "Power Group" comprised of executives from minority-owned businesses who sent him expensive gifts while some earned federal DEI contracts. The gifts included $8,200 in Louis Vuitton gift cards, $2,000 in cash, a $631 HEPA filter, and $3,800 in casino chips. The charges come as the Trump administration moves to crack down on DEI practices among federal contractors.
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