Vet groups ask Trump to keep Shulkin as VA chief
Flap over European trip clouds secretary’s role
WASHINGTON – Three veterans organizations urged President Trump to keep Veterans Affairs Secretary-David Shulkin in place despite his misuse of taxpayer dollars during a European trip last year.
The American Legion ticked off a list of his accomplishments at the department, including modernization of the appeals process for VA benefits, improved patient satisfaction, decreased wait times and increased access to mental health care.
“We have been encouraged by the great progress Secretary Shulkin has made and believe that he remains the best person to lead this important federal public institution on the behalf of the American people,” the group’s national commander, Denise Rohan, said in a statement Monday.
One of the oldest organizations representing veterans, AmVets, praised the secretary.
“Please allow VA Secretary Shulkin the space necessary to do his job and continue your focus on fixing the VA,” Joe Chenelly, executive director of AmVets, said in a statement directed at the president.
Vietnam Veterans of America echoed those thoughts and expressed support for VA Deputy Secretary Tom Bowman, who has been on the job since August.
“Keep both David Shulkin and Tom Bowman, and see where we are in a year,” said Rick Weidman, cofounder of the organization. “It hasn’t been long enough.”
Veterans groups had been largely silent since the VA inspector general released a report last Wednesday concluding Shulkin improperly accepted tickets to Wimbledon and airfare for his wife during a 10day trip to Denmark and London last July.
Shulkin said the findingswere unfair and inaccurate, then expressed regret for the errors he and his staff made and reimbursed the government.
Days of turmoil followed. Friday, his chief of staff, Vivieca Wright Simpson, announced she was retiring after 32 years at the agency.
Investigators determined she misled ethics officials by doctoring an email to get clearance for Shulkin’s wife to travel with him at taxpayers’ expense.
Within hours, the White House installed a new chief of staff, Peter O’Rourke, who was a member of Trump’s transition team and created the Office of Accountability and Whistleblower Protection at the VA.
The fate of Shulkin remained unclear over the weekend. Friday, he told USA TODAY he remained committed to staying on and fulfilling Trump’s agenda.
Other veterans groups took a wait- and- see approach. Garry Augustine, executive director of Disabled American Veterans, said he is generally supportive of Shulkin but is waiting to learn more about what transpired at the agency.