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Sources: Trump Wants Army Veteran Pete Hegseth to Replace VA Secretary Shulkin
Townhall.com ^ | March 2018 | Katie Pavlich

Posted on 03/14/2018 12:38:17 PM PDT by Kaslin

President Donald Trump is expected to fire VA Secretary David Shulkin and is strongly considering replacing him with U.S. Army Veteran Pete Hegseth, according to three sources who spoke to Townhall under the condition of anonymity. It has been rumored former Texas Governor Rick Perry is also on the list for the job.

It has been widely reported President Trump called Hegseth on Monday during a meeting with Shulkin in the Oval Office to go over options for reform. According to Axios, Trump specifically asked Hegseth to analyze new VA legislation while Shulkin listened in on speaker phone. 

Since Shulkin took over, the VA has continued to be riddled with scandal and a number of reports show veterans are still dying as a result of bad care. The Secretary has also come under fire for lavish taxpayer spending on personal trips.

Hegseth was an original contender to lead the agency during the Trump transition into the White House and worked for years as the President of Concerned Veterans for America on VA reform. At the time, he was backed by a number of VA whistleblowers for the position. Hegseth has been deployed overseas three times and served in Guantanamo Bay. He is an Iraq and Afghanistan veteran with two Bronze Stars. He is currently the weekend host for Fox and Friends and a senior analyst for Fox News.

In recent weeks, the heat on Shulkin has increased as the White House and President Trump have lost patience with his lack of performance. Trump campaigned on VA reform and sources say Shulkin is a creature of government averse to accountability or private care options. 

Shulkin is the only Trump Cabinet member who remains after being held over from the Obama administration. He was unanimously confirmed by the Senate last year.


TOPICS: Cuba; Culture/Society; Front Page News; US: New York
KEYWORDS: afghanistan; cuba; davidshulkin; foxandfriendsweekend; guantanamo; iraq; petehegseth; presidenttrump; rickperry; texas; vareform
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To: grania

Why is swamp drain taking so long? Give the left points for that.


21 posted on 03/14/2018 1:26:04 PM PDT by shanover (...To disarm the people is the best and most effectual way to enslave them.-S.Adams)
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To: Kaslin

I’m still waiting for high blood pressure to be listed as a Vietnam/Agent Orange illness. They were supposed to decide last November but then they just stalled on the decision. I have been treated (at the VA)for high blood pressure since I returned from Vietnam in 1968.


22 posted on 03/14/2018 1:33:01 PM PDT by rexthecat
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To: \/\/ayne

Generally around here such degrees are considered debilitating but not as bad as an MBA! ;-)

I am/will support Pete for Sec VA.


23 posted on 03/14/2018 1:52:01 PM PDT by mad_as_he$$
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To: rexthecat

Thanks for your service, and don’t forget to takeyour medicine.


24 posted on 03/14/2018 1:53:21 PM PDT by miserare ( Hillary--you lost! Get over it!!)
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To: skimbell

I saw that - very impressive that he keeps himself in good shape.


25 posted on 03/14/2018 2:58:27 PM PDT by GnuThere
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To: vette6387

The only good would be Sessions relieving Mueller of command and seizing all computers and files and walking his team out with escorts. They have volumes on the bad actors and are probably sequestering evidence as we speak to protect the guilty. Here’s hoping!


26 posted on 03/14/2018 3:33:24 PM PDT by Billyv ( Ephesians 6:11 for we battle not against flesh and blood...Pray for our leaders and nation!)
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To: Kaslin

Yes! We want Pete.


27 posted on 03/14/2018 3:37:02 PM PDT by dforest (Never let a Muslim cut your hair.)
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To: mad_as_he$$

Pete is a Hahvard grad. Love this guy. A real patriot.


28 posted on 03/14/2018 3:38:01 PM PDT by dforest (Never let a Muslim cut your hair.)
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To: miserare

You dog. LOL, but I agree with ya. I just hope you aren’t a guy!


29 posted on 03/14/2018 3:40:09 PM PDT by dforest (Never let a Muslim cut your hair.)
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To: Kaslin

I thought Hegseth would be appointed at the beginning. Too bad he went with Obama guy Shulkin.


30 posted on 03/14/2018 3:42:30 PM PDT by MayflowerMadam (Have an A-1 day.)
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To: dforest

I’m an old lady with glaucoma, but Pete looks very fine to me!


31 posted on 03/14/2018 4:01:23 PM PDT by miserare ( Hillary--you lost! Get over it!!)
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To: Kaslin

Pete has my vote!
A great patriot!


32 posted on 03/14/2018 4:04:06 PM PDT by Guenevere (The wrath of God has come upon them at last.....)
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Why would Pete leave his cushy weekend hosting gig that probably pays really good for the VA job?

Hmmm, maybe for Country he would do it but I'm not betting on it

33 posted on 03/14/2018 4:07:37 PM PDT by KavMan
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To: mad_as_he$$

Yes!!! He is awesome and dedicated to our Vets


34 posted on 03/14/2018 4:21:31 PM PDT by Engedi
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To: miserare

Love ya, yes he looks fine to me too.


35 posted on 03/14/2018 4:31:12 PM PDT by dforest (Never let a Muslim cut your hair.)
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To: jospehm20

Privatizing the VA would be disastrous for veterans like me who rely on the specialized services that only the VA can provide.

As a paraplegic, I need the specialty care the VA offers. The spinal cord clinic, prosthetics, neurology and several other specialists.

And there are veterans who rely on care for PTSD, TBI and a score of other veteran specific issues.

Throw us out into the civilian hospitals and many more will die.


36 posted on 03/14/2018 4:32:30 PM PDT by airborne (I don't always scream at the TV but when I do it's hockey playoffs season!)
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To: airborne

I find it very hard to believe that the VA provides anything that other facilities cannot provide. There are civilian doctors that specialize in all the areas you mentioned who don’t put people on secret waiting lists to do as the VA has been caught doing.


37 posted on 03/14/2018 5:03:19 PM PDT by jospehm20
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To: jospehm20

Should be “who don’t put people on secret waiting lists to die as the VA has been caught doing”


38 posted on 03/14/2018 5:04:45 PM PDT by jospehm20
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To: vladimir998

Hegseth is committed to serving vets but has no management experience that would qualify him to run an organization as big as the VA. On top of that he’s a globalist in good standing with the Council on Foreign Relations. Trump has a habit of giving unqualified friends positions their not suited for. Kudlow is the latest. He supported JEB during the campaign and openly mocked Trump. In the last couple days he’s slammed the idea of tariffs. He won’t last 6 months working as the head of the Economic Council. If Trump is looking for a qualified VA secretary Rick Perry is just a phone call away.


39 posted on 03/14/2018 5:07:15 PM PDT by NKP_Vet ("Man without God descends into madness")
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To: jospehm20

I’m getting those specialists in one hospital. My medical records are right there so I can see three specialists in one day and then pick up prescriptions at the pharmacy.

And the cost for civilian specialists, not counting the time and travel, is much higher than my VA.

Is it possible you find it hard to believe because you haven’t lived it for 3 decades like I have?


40 posted on 03/14/2018 5:39:54 PM PDT by airborne (I don't always scream at the TV but when I do it's hockey playoffs season!)
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