Senate confirms Wilkie as VA chief on bipartisan vote
WASHINGTON — The Senate on Monday confirmed Pentagon official Robert Wilkie to be secretary of Veterans Affairs, charged with delivering on President Donald Trump’s campaign promises to fire bad VA employees and steer more patients to the private sector.
Wilkie won approval on a bipartisan vote of 86-9, securing the backing of many Democrats after insisting at his confirmation hearing that he will not tor of their choice.” Curwant full funding for core privatize the government’s rently more than 30 perVA medical centers, which second-largest department. cent of VA appointments they see as best-suited to It was a moment of respite are made in the private veterans’ specialized needs from the sharp political sector. such as treatment for postdivisions engulfing Under repeated questraumatic stress. Trump’s other nominees in tioning at his hearing, the As VA secretary, Wilkie the final months before Air Force and Navy veteran also will have more power congressional midterm said he opposed privatizing under a new accountability elections. the agency of 360,000 emlaw to fire VA employees.
Wilkie is Trump’s third ployees and would make Lawmakers from both pick for the job in 18 sure VA health care is “fully parties have recently raised months. The longtime pubfunded.” questions about the law’s lic official says he will When pressed by Sen. implementation, including “shake up complacency” at Jon Tester, the top Demochow whistleblower comVA, which has struggled rat on the panel, if he would plaints are handled and with long waits in providbe willing to disagree with whether the law is being ing medical treatment to Trump, Wilkie responded disproportionately used millions of veterans. “yes.” against rank-and-file em
Trump selected Wilkie “I have been privileged ployees rather than senior for the post in May after to work for some of the managers who set policy. firing his first VA secretary, most high-powered people “The tone has been set David Shulkin, amid ethics in this town,” said Wilkie, by President Trump on the charges and internal rebelcurrently a Pentagon undirection of VA reforms,” lion at the department over dersecretary for Defense said Dan Caldwell, executhe role of private care for Secretary Jim Mattis. tive director of the conserveterans. Trump’s initial re“They pay me for their vative Concerned Veterans placement choice, White opinions, and I give those to for America. “There have House doctor Ronny Jackthem.” been a tremendous number son, withdrew after allegaWilkie’s main task in the of bills passed in the last tions of workplace misconcoming months will be year and half, and all will duct surfaced. carrying out a newly signed require a lot of work to
Wilkie, a former assistlaw to ease access to private make sure they are properant secretary of defense health providers. That law ly implemented.” under President George W. gives the VA secretary wide Republican Sen. Johnny Bush, has received mostly authority to decide when Isakson of Georgia, chairpositive reviews from vetveterans can bypass the VA, man of the Senate Veterans erans’ groups for his manbased on whether they reAffairs Committee, praised agement experience, but ceive “quality” care, but the Wilkie as “eminently qualithe extent of his willingprogram could face escalatfied,” saying he will “bring ness to expand private care ing costs. stability and leadership” to as an alternative toVA.govern-SomeDemocratshave ment-run VA care remains warned the VA won’t be Wilkie served as acting largely unknown. able to handle a growing VAsecretary after Shulkin’s
Trump last year pledged price tag, putting it at risk of firing in March, before rehe would triple the number budget shortfalls next year. turning to his role as Pentaof veterans “seeing the doc- Major veterans’ groups gon undersecretary. Robert Wilkie told senators at his confirmation hearing that he opposed privatizing Veterans Affairs.