Trump fires Veterans Affairs Secretary David Shulkin

President Donald Trump fired Veterans Affairs Secretary David Shulkin Wednesday in the wake of a bruising ethics scandal and a mounting rebellion within the agency, and nominated White House doctor Ronny Jackson to lead it.

A Navy rear admiral, Jackson is a surprise choice to succeed Shulkin, a former Obama administration official and the first non-veteran ever to head the VA. Trump had been considering replacements for Shulkin for weeks, but had not been known to be considering Jackson for the role.

In a statement, Trump praised Jackson as “highly trained and qualified.”

Jackson has served since 2013 as the Physician to the President, and gained a national profile earlier this year for holding a sweeping press conference on the president’s health.

Brigadier General Dr. Richard Tubb, who trained Jackson, said in a letter read at Jackson’s briefing that the members of the White House medical team have been “figuratively Velcro-ed” to Trump since the day after his election.

“On any given day,” he wrote,”the ‘physician’s office,’ as it is known, is generally the first and last to see the President.”

A White House official said Shulkin was informed of his dismissal by Chief of Staff John Kelly before the president announced the move on Twitter Wednesday afternoon.

Shulkin is the second Cabinet secretary to depart over controversies involving expensive travel, following former Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price’s resignation last September. Trump said in a statement he is “grateful” for Shulkin’s service.