VA health chief picked by Trump to lead agency
WASHINGTON — President-elect Donald Trump on Wednesday tapped the Department of Veterans Affairs’ top health official to lead a beleaguered agency struggling to meet the health needs of millions of veterans.
David Shulkin’s nomination signals a more modest approach to change at the VA after Trump repeatedly pledged an overhaul. During the presidential campaign, Trump described the VA as “the most corrupt agency” and “probably the most incompetently run agency.”
If confirmed, Shulkin would have the rare distinction of being an ex-Obama administration official serving in the Trump administration.
Trump announced Shulkin’s selection at a news conference in New York and said he had interviewed at least 100 people for the job.
“Sadly our great veterans have not gotten the level of care they deserve, but Dr. Shulkin has the experience and the vision to ensure we will meet the health care needs of every veteran,” Trump said.
The choice is likely to soothe some of the largest veterans organizations and pave an easy path to confirmation in the Senate, where Shulkin was approved unanimously to be undersecretary of health in 2015. Veterans groups and Democrats have praised steps taken by VA Secretary Bob McDonald’s team and feared that other possible picks might push for greater privatization. Shulkin has supported closer ties with the private sector, but opposed full privatization..