{"id":26978,"date":"2018-04-04T13:36:50","date_gmt":"2018-04-04T13:36:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/airforcetimes\/uncategorized\/2018\/04\/04\/acting-va-secretary-works-to-refocus-staffers-in-his-first-public-remarks\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T02:27:05","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T02:27:05","slug":"acting-va-secretary-works-to-refocus-staffers-in-his-first-public-remarks","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/airforcetimes\/veterans\/2018\/04\/04\/acting-va-secretary-works-to-refocus-staffers-in-his-first-public-remarks\/","title":{"rendered":"Acting VA Secretary works to refocus staffers in his first public remarks"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

WASHINGTON \u2014 In his first public message since taking office, acting VA Secretary Robert Wilkie<\/a> promised to continue to build a customer-service focus for veterans programs and to tamp down agency infighting<\/a> as the administration tries to stabilize the embattled department.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cCustomer service must start with each other,\u201d he said in a video released Wednesday morning. \u201cNot talking at each other, but talking with each other across all office barriers and across all compartments. If we don\u2019t listen to each other, we won\u2019t be able to listen to veterans and their families.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Wilkie, who was named to the top veterans post last week after the abrupt firing of former VA Secretary David Shulkin<\/a>, had previously worked as undersecretary of defense for personnel and readiness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On Tuesday, officials from AMVETS and some Democratic lawmakers questioned President Donald Trump\u2019s decision to place Wilkie in the acting post, saying the role should have gone to VA Deputy Secretary Tom Bowman instead. Bowman has been rumored to be fired or dismissed in coming days.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Critics say Wilkie\u2019s appointment raises multiple legal questions that could undermine any decisions he makes while the administration awaits the confirmation of former White House physician Dr. Ronny Jackson<\/a> to take over the permanent VA secretary role.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In his video, Wilkie acknowledges that \u201cI do not know how long I\u2019ll be privileged to serve as the acting secretary\u201d but promises to work to better the department during his time there. He also discusses his own military service and that of his family members, underscoring the important role VA plays in supporting all veterans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Wilkie\u2019s message of more collaboration and cooperation between federal departments comes after months of infighting between political appointees in the administration and Shulkin, who has attacked those critics for encouraging his firing to advance policies that will undermine VA funding and privatize some VA health care programs. White House officials have denied those charges.<\/p>\n\n\n\t