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.
“Privatizing would be better for everybody but VA career employees.”
I disagree with your “for everybody” part. For the typical vet with non-combat related issues, yes. Privatization could be best for both the vet and the taxpayer.
For those with combat related problems, NO!. I went to treatment facilities several times over 4 decades treated for things I did not have, that the VA recently diagnosed as combat zone related issue, now I am receiving proper care and very pleased with it.
With regard to the various diseases, agent orange being one example, those with missing limbs, combat stress issues and a few others that can be had only by being a war, only a fully dedicated outfit designed to serve just those folks is what’s needed.
You must not have been treated at the Phoenix VA.
Great pick!
You are quite correct.
to me the scandal in the VA seems to be regional. I’ve been treated by both the ND and SD Vet Admin med facilities, and they compare very well with civilian. And like I said in my orig post, only the VA knew what the hell was going on with my combat related issue.
Reform is needed, but not wholesale/across the board.
Good for you. I am actually glad to hear you say that.
If the VA is so great, I guess we can just leave it because there is no problem and nobody is dying waiting on care.
The problem with care at the VA is it is inconsistent and it varies, sometimes widely, depending on the location. I have personal experience with getting healthcare at several different VA’s and sometimes you get world class care, and sometimes you want to sneak out the back door because of what you see and hear
Part of that problem is that they are the gubmint and very hard to sue.
Running a "huge corporation" such as the VA requires years of upper level management experience. I'd like to see Rex Tillerson considered for the job......He certainly has the experience
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