Trump Wants Shulkin Out As VA Continues To Be Rocked By Turmoil And Rebellion, Sources Say
Speculation over Veterans Affairs Secretary David Shulkin's fate has been simmering for several weeks after a a watchdog report cited inappropriate travel spending. Shulkin has also made waves by accusing those within the agency of trying to undermine him.
President Donald Trump is planning to oust embattled Veterans Affairs Secretary David Shulkin amid an extraordinary rebellion at the agency and damaging government investigations into his alleged spending abuses, three administration officials told The Associated Press on Sunday. Two officials said an announcement on Shulkin could happen this week, subject to Trump's final decision as the White House hones in on possible replacements to head the Department of Veterans Affairs. (Yen and Thomas, 3/25)
At his coastal resort here, Trump told associates he wants to oust Veterans Affairs Secretary David Shulkin. Christopher Ruddy, the chief executive of Newsmax, talked to the president Saturday and then said on television Sunday that Shulkin is 鈥渓ikely to depart the Cabinet very soon.鈥 Ruddy, who speaks to Trump frequently, said on ABC News鈥 鈥淭his Week鈥 that the president thinks the White House is operating 鈥渓ike a smooth machine鈥 and that he has been 鈥減erplexed鈥 by news reports of chaos. 鈥淗e did say that he鈥檚 expecting to make one or two major changes to his government very soon,鈥 Ruddy said. (Wagner and Dawsey, 3/25)
