Trump Ousts Scandal-Plagued Veterans Affairs Secretary, Appoints Replacement
By The Daily Wire. On Wednesday, President Donald Trump announced that Veterans Affairs Secretary David Shulkin was out and that he was being replaced by White House physician Dr. Ronny Jackson.
Trump tweeted: “I am pleased to announce that I intend to nominate highly respected Admiral Ronny L. Jackson, MD, as the new Secretary of Veterans Affairs. In the interim, Hon. Robert Wilkie of DOD will serve as Acting Secretary. I am thankful for Dr. David Shulkin’s service to our country and to our GREAT VETERANS!” . . .
I am pleased to announce that I intend to nominate highly respected Admiral Ronny L. Jackson, MD, as the new Secretary of Veterans Affairs….
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 28, 2018
….In the interim, Hon. Robert Wilkie of DOD will serve as Acting Secretary. I am thankful for Dr. David Shulkin’s service to our country and to our GREAT VETERANS!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 28, 2018
A Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Office of Inspector General (OIG) report found that Shulkin intentionally lied to government ethics officials and then lied to investigators to cover up his misuse of government funds. The details of Shulkin’s misbehavior can be found here. (Read more from “Trump Ousts Scandal-Plagued Veterans Affairs Secretary, Appoints Replacement” HERE)
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Trump Fires VA Secretary David Shulkin, Taps Navy Physician as Replacement
By The Washington Times. ust hours earlier, a spokesman for Mr. Shulkin told The Washington Times that there were “no personnel changes to announce” at the agency, despite mounting reports that Mr. Trump was preparing to remove Mr. Shulkin.
“President Trump has made clear that he expects the department’s sole focus to be on providing quality care to America’s veterans who have sacrificed to keep this country free and safe,” VA spokesman Curt Cashour said.
A White House spokesman said Monday that Mr. Trump had confidence in Mr. Shulkin “at this point in time.” Some major veterans groups expressed support for keeping Mr. Shulkin in the post.
Mr. Shulkin was a rare holdover from the Obama administration in Mr. Trump’s Cabinet, having served as undersecretary of health at the VA from 2015 to 2017. While the president initially praised his performance, he began to sour on Mr. Shulkin this year after an inspector general’s report criticized the secretary for wasting taxpayer money on a trip to Europe with his wife last summer.
Mr. Shulkin fell out of favor with some White House advisers who favor pushing more veterans’ health care services to the private sector. (Read more from “Trump Fires VA Secretary David Shulkin, Taps Navy Physician as Replacement” HERE)
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