Politics

Trump Fires Shulkin, Announces New VA Secretary

REUTERS/Joshua Roberts

Julia Nista General Assignment Reporter
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President Trump announced Wednesday White House physician Ronny Jackson will be the new secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs.

“I am pleased to announce that I intend to nominate highly respected Admiral Ronny L. Jackson, MD, as the new Secretary of Veterans Affairs….” Trump tweeted.

“….In the interim, Hon. Robert Wilkie of DOD will serve as Acting Secretary. I am thankful for Dr. David Shulkin’s service to our country and to our GREAT VETERANS!” Trump continued.

The previous secretary of the VA, David Shulkin, seemed to have lost favor with the White House after an IG report surfaced in February that alleged he misused VA funds to send his wife to Europe. In the wake of the IG report, Shulkin was not consistent in his reasoning as to the order of events surrounding the approved funds for his wife’s travel. (RELATED: Shulkin Says Impersonation Of Top Staffer Occurred Hours Before Facing Congress About Altered Email)

Shulkin was appointed by former President Barack Obama and was the only cabinet secretary to carry over into the Trump administration.

Admiral Ronny L. Jackson currently serves as physician to the president. Unlike Sec. Shulkin, Adm. Jackson has a long history of serving in the military. He began active service in the Navy in 1995, and he served a residency in the Portsmouth Naval Medical Center in 2001. In 2005, he deployed with Operation Iraqi Freedom as part of the 2nd Marines.

Jackson also served as physician to presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama.

Robert Wilkie currently serves as the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness in the Department of Defense.

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