In the wake of the Walter Reed Army Medical Center neglect scandal, Harvey announced his resignation on March 2, 2007 after being asked to do so by Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, with effect from March 9. In his memoirs, Gates cited Harvey's appointment of Army Surgeon-General Kevin C. Kiley as temporary hospital commander. This appointment "was greeted with dismay by many wounded warriors and their families" because many of these problems arose during Kiley's previous command of the hospital. Gates also cited Harvey's "unconscionable" attempt to blame the problems on "some NCOs who weren't doing their job".