Trump is reportedly going to fire VA Secretary David Shulkin soon, but not just yet
President Trump is preparing to fire Veterans Affairs Secretary David Shulkin, following reports of spending abuses and a revolt at the VA, at least among a handful of political appointees, three administration officials told The Associated Press on Sunday. One official put the odds that Shulkin would be ousted in the next day or so at "50-50."
In conversations from Mar-a-Lago over the weekend, Trump "did say that he's expecting to make one or two major changes," Newsmax CEO Chris Ruddy, a Trump confidant, told ABC's This Week. "Now, other White House sources, not the president, tell me that Veterans Affairs Secretary David Shulkin is likely to depart the Cabinet very soon." Trump reportedly told associates at Mar-a-Lago that he plans to keep on Chief of Staff John Kelly and Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson, both subject of rumored departures.
The White House is looking at a half-dozen people to replace Shulkin, AP reports, ranging from conservative Fox & Friends contributor Pete Hegseth to former Rep. Jeff Miller (R-Fla.), retired Army Lt. Gen. Keith Kellogg, and Lockheed Martin senior vice president and former VA deputy secretary Leo Mackey Jr. The VA, with 370,000 employees, is the second-largest federal department, after Homeland Security, and it profiles medical care and other benefits to about 9 million veterans.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Rumors about Shulkin's ouster have been spreading since February, but "right now, Trump is happy to watch Shulkin twist in the wind for a while," says Jonathan Swan at Axios. "A prolonged period of job insecurity and public humiliation is a uniquely Trumpian form of payback," in Shulkin's case for "freelancing to The New York Times," mishandling of internal disputes, and other perceived errors.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.
-
The Week contest: Airport goodbyes
Puzzles and Quizzes
By The Week US Published
-
'We shouldn't be surprised that crypto is back'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
How the national debt affects your finances
Rachel Reeves has changed the rules, but why does that matter?
By Marc Shoffman, The Week UK Published
-
'Empowered' Steve Bannon released from prison
Speed Read Bannon was set free a week before Election Day and quickly returned to his right-wing podcast to promote Trump
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Canada accuses top Modi ally of directing Sikh attacks
Speed Read Indian Home Minister Amit Shah was allegedly behind a campaign of violence and intimidation targeting Sikh separatists
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Harris makes closing case in huge rally at DC's Ellipse
Speed Read The Democratic nominee asked voters to "turn the page" on Trump's "division" and "chaos"
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
'I am not a Nazi,' Trump says amid MSG rally fallout
Speed Read Trump and his campaign are attempting to stem the fallout from comments made by speakers at Sunday's rally
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Ballot drop boxes set on fire in Oregon, Washington
Speed Read Hundreds of submitted ballots were destroyed in Vancouver, Washington
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Israel votes to ban UN agency for Palestinians
Speed Read UNRWA provides food, medical care and other humanitarian assistance to Palestine
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
US election: where things stand with one week to go
The Explainer Harris' lead in the polls has been narrowing in Trump's favour, but her campaign remains 'cautiously optimistic'
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Elon Musk is in regular contact with Putin, WSJ says
Speed Read The Tesla founder has been increasingly involved in Donald Trump's presidential campaign
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published