Trump turns to interim head to run troubled VA
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump on Friday named a seasoned government official to be secretary of the troubled Veterans Affairs Department after his first, unconventional pick withdrew amid allegations of wrongdoing.
The new nominee, Robert Wilkie, has been acting secretary since late March.
If confirmed by the Senate, Wilkie would take over the second-largest federal department, one that has been on the defensive for years over complaints of inadequate service to veterans. Trump fired his first secretary, David Shulkin, nearly two months ago; his next choice, White House physician Ronny Jackson, dropped out of the confirmation process after reports of misconduct and mismanagement, which Jackson denied.
Trump’s announcement of the nomination apparently came as a surprise to his choice. Introducing Wilkie along with other Cabinet members at an unrelated White House event on prison policies, the president said, “He doesn’t know this yet, that we’re going to be putting his name up for nomination to be secretary of the Veterans Administration. Fantastic.”
Wilkie, an Air Force reservist, has been the interim head of Veterans Affairs — its name was changed in 1988 — while also serving as undersecretary of defense for personnel and readiness. He served as an assistant secretary of defense in the George W. Bush administration under Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, among other national security positions. More recently, he served as a senior adviser to Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C.
Unlike Jackson, whom Trump nominated seemingly on a whim without the usual background vetting, Wilkie has experience with the Senate confirmation process. He was confirmed for his current, lower-profile Pentagon position in November by a voice vote and has prepared other nominees, in- cluding Defense Secretary Jim Mattis, for the sometimes grueling process.
Sen. Jon Tester, DMont., the top Democrat on the Veterans Affairs Committee whose scrutiny of Jackson led to his withdrawal, said in a statement that he has “a good working relationship with Acting Sec. Wilkie and I look forward to sitting down with him again to have an in- depth conversation about his vision and plan for the VA.”
Committee chairman Sen. Johnny Isakson, RGa., said he “enjoyed my time getting to know Robert Wilkie” and “look forward to learning more about his long-term views for the VA.”
Veterans groups had a measured response to the nomination.
“Like any other candidate, Mr. Wilkie will have to prove to millions of veterans nationwide that he is up to the mammoth, sacred leadership task,” said Paul Rieckhoff, leader of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America.