{"id":39055,"date":"2018-02-27T16:12:45","date_gmt":"2018-02-27T16:12:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/uncategorized\/2018\/02\/27\/embattled-va-secretary-insists-hes-in-charge-and-moving-past-controversies\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T03:10:13","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T03:10:13","slug":"embattled-va-secretary-insists-hes-in-charge-and-moving-past-controversies","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/veterans\/2018\/02\/27\/embattled-va-secretary-insists-hes-in-charge-and-moving-past-controversies\/","title":{"rendered":"Embattled VA secretary insists he\u2019s in charge and moving past controversies"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">WASHINGTON \u2014 Veterans Affairs Secretary David Shulkin insists <a href=\"https:\/\/www.militarytimes.com\/veterans\/2018\/02\/14\/report-blasts-va-secretary-for-improper-gifts-and-travel-lying-to-cover-up-scandal\/\" title=\"\" class=\"\" target=\"_blank\">the drama at his department<\/a> is now in the past.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI think things are clear,\u201d he told reporters Tuesday. \u201cI\u2019m the secretary. I set the agenda.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI\u2019ve made it clear that there is only one agenda in the department, and that is to get back on track.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The comments came following his speech to the American Legion\u2019s winter conference, during which the embattled secretary made no mention of a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.militarytimes.com\/veterans\/2018\/02\/14\/va-secretary-promises-to-go-along-with-ig-recommendations-despite-disagreements\/\" title=\"\" class=\"\" target=\"_blank\">damning inspector general report<\/a> earlier this month accusing him of ethics violations or the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.militarytimes.com\/veterans\/2018\/02\/13\/controveries-mount-as-va-officials-work-to-stay-focused-on-health-care-reforms\/\" title=\"\" class=\"selected-link\" target=\"_blank\" data-original-title=\"\" aria-describedby=\"popover626000\">subsequent power struggle<\/a> within his department that elicited accusations of email hacking and staff subversion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Since then, White House officials have held a series of high-level meetings with VA officials and veterans groups in an effort to stabilize the department.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Shulkin said last week he received assurances from Chief of Staff John Kelly that his job is safe and that he would be given the authority he needs to run the department. On Monday, Kelly met with a several veterans groups to respond to concerns about Shulkin\u2019s handling of the controversies and the ensuring internal strife at the massive bureaucracy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But nearly two weeks after the turmoil began, the only change in senior leadership at the department has been Shulkin\u2019s chief of staff, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.militarytimes.com\/veterans\/2018\/02\/16\/va-chief-of-staff-resigns-amid-secretarys-travel-scandal\/\" title=\"\" class=\"\" target=\"_blank\">Vivieca Wright Simpson<\/a>, who retired amid accusations she doctored official emails to gain impermissible travel benefits for Shulkin\u2019s wife. Simpson was replaced by Peter O\u2019Rourke, hand-picked by administration officials to ensure the VA \u201cworks closely with the White House going forward.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\t<aside class=\"smg-interstitial-link wp-block-smg-interstitial-link\">\n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/militarytimes\/veterans\/2018\/02\/18\/who-is-in-charge-at-the-department-of-veterans-affairs\/\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__media\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" src=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/IMG_8039.JPG.jpg?w=300\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__image wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" \/>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__content\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"smg-interstitial-link__kicker\">Related<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"smg-interstitial-link__title\">Who is in charge at the Department of Veterans Affairs?<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"smg-interstitial-link__excerpt\">Since a travel scandal broke on Wednesday, VA leadership has been embroiled in internal political fights that could result in the ousting of more top department leaders.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/aside>\n\t\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Rumors circulating through the veterans community that Shulkin was days away from dismissal turned out unfounded. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.militarytimes.com\/veterans\/2018\/02\/19\/veterans-groups-rally-around-va-secretary-amid-rumors-of-looming-dismissal\/\" title=\"\" class=\"\" target=\"_blank\">Several major groups<\/a> including the Legion, Disabled American Veterans and Veterans of Foreign Wars, have issued statements of support for him in recent days, portraying him as a safeguard against forces working to \u201cprivatize\u201d VA services.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Shulkin on Tuesday would not say whether he expects more departures \u2014 or dismissals \u2014 in the weeks ahead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He had said no organization can be successful \u201cif there are people pursuing their own agendas\u201d but declined to speak about VA and White House staffers reportedly fighting with him on a host of policy issues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI\u2019m not spending my time looking for subversions,\u201d he said, repeating his allegations of insubordination within the department.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cIf it becomes clear that people are working on different agendas, I\u2019m going to address that. I\u2019m looking into all the things I\u2019m aware of, and I\u2019m going to hold people accountable for their actions.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He also insisted the department has a unified voice on issues of sweeping health care reforms being debated on Capitol Hill.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThis has been consistent since I came in as undersecretary,\u201d he said. \u201cI believe the best thing for veterans is a strong VA system focused on the care and services that veterans rely upon, but it needs to be supplemented by a strong system of integration with the private sector.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/AP_18046533441075.jpg.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-29761\" srcset=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/AP_18046533441075.jpg.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/AP_18046533441075.jpg.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/AP_18046533441075.jpg.jpg?resize=768,512 768w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/AP_18046533441075.jpg.jpg?resize=1024,683 1024w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Veterans Affairs Secretary David Shulkin, left, next to James Manker, VA Acting Principal Deputy Under Secretary for Benefits, speaks about FY19 to the House Veterans Affairs Committee on Feb. 15, 2018, on Capitol Hill (Jacquelyn Martin\/AP)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That statement \u2014 which he repeated in his speech to the Legionnaires \u2014 conflicts with some statements from members of President Donald Trump\u2019s administration, who have been pushing to give veterans broader access to private-sector health care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Supporters of that plan have said it would provide more choice for veterans, who have seen problems with wait times and access at VA hospitals in recent years. Critics say oit privatizes the responsibilities of the government by dismantling VA services and offering vouchers for veterans to find their own health care solutions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But Shulkin insists his statements on the issue represent a compromise between the two factions and, perhaps more importantly, reflect the White House\u2019s real goals for VA\u2019s future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Reforming VA\u2019s health care system (and giving veterans easier access to private-sector care) was a core promise of Trump\u2019s presidential campaign, and was one of the primary jobs given to Shulkin when he was nominated to take over as the new VA secretary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But lawmakers have been frustrated with what they see as mixed messages from Shulkin on the issue in recent months, with the department formally endorsing three competing versions of legislation without identifying a clear favorite.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Now, congressional leaders are hoping Shulkin can put the recent controversies behind him and help them move ahead with reforms, especially since money for the VA\u2019s primary outside care program is set to run out of funding later this spring.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">On Tuesday, House Veterans\u2019 Affairs Committee Chairman Phil Roe, R-Tennessee, said he is optimistic that all sides are close to a solution. Senate Veterans\u2019 Affairs Committee ranking member Jon Tester, D-Montana, said the process would gather speed if Shulkin would back legislation already passed by his committee.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cHe was in the room when we wrote it,\u201d he said. \u201cHis endorsement would move this ahead.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Tester also condemned some of Shulkin\u2019s actions unveiled in the IG report \u2014 which included improperly accepting Wimbledon tennis tournament tickets from an English businessman and lying about ethics officials\u2019 approval of a 10-day overseas trip \u2014 and promised to closely watch what reforms the secretary enacts in coming weeks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cFrom my perspective, he used his one \u2018get out of jail free\u2019 card,\u201d Tester said. \u201cWe can\u2019t see that again. It would be bad.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cBut I think we\u2019re past it, and we have other things to work on.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>David Shulkin moved to quell rumors of a power struggle at VA during a Tuesday appearance: &#8220;I\u2019m the secretary. I set the agenda.&#8221;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":73913,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_yoast_wpseo_meta-robots-noindex":"","_yoast_wpseo_meta-robots-nofollow":"","_yoast_wpseo_canonical":"","_acf":"","_yoast_wpseo_primary_category":19,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","_smg_distribution_targets":[]},"categories":[101,12,26,19],"tags":[],"coauthors":[3222],"class_list":["post-39055","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-daily-news-roundup","category-news","category-newsletters","category-veterans"],"acf":{"subheadline":"","legacy_arc_id":"EZDBY5HCGFDLNHABVSW55XWIHU","arc_canonical_url":"\/veterans\/2018\/02\/27\/embattled-va-secretary-insists-hes-in-charge-and-moving-past-controversies\/","remove_feature_photo":false,"is_sponsored":false,"subtype":"","redirect_url":"","disable_inline_ads":false,"native_logo_pretext":"Presented By:"},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v26.0 (Yoast SEO v28.1) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Embattled VA secretary insists he\u2019s in charge and moving past controversies - Navy Times<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"David Shulkin moved to quell rumors of a power struggle at VA during a Tuesday appearance: &quot;I\u2019m the secretary. 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