{"id":62844,"date":"2018-02-15T17:03:25","date_gmt":"2018-02-15T17:03:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/uncategorized\/2018\/02\/15\/amid-travel-scandal-shulkin-vows-to-root-out-division-within-va-leadership\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T11:26:40","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T11:26:40","slug":"amid-travel-scandal-shulkin-vows-to-root-out-division-within-va-leadership","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/veterans\/2018\/02\/15\/amid-travel-scandal-shulkin-vows-to-root-out-division-within-va-leadership\/","title":{"rendered":"Amid travel scandal, Shulkin vows to root out division within VA leadership"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">WASHINGTON \u2014 A day after an <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\">inspector general report<\/a> accused him of wasting taxpayer funds and lying about it, <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\">Veterans Affairs Secretary David Shulkin<\/a> promised to get rid of individuals within his own department who may be working to undermine his leadership.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWe need this department to be functioning well,\u201d a frustrated Shulkin told reporters on Capitol Hill Thursday. \u201cEverybody needs to know their job is taking care of veterans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cIf that\u2019s not the case, we\u2019re going to root that out and we\u2019re going to make sure this is a department we\u2019re all proud of.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That includes an investigation into claims that his chief of staff\u2019s emails may have been hacked, leading to a series of mistakes culminating in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.va.gov\/oig\/publications\/report-summary.asp?id=4034\" title=\"\" class=\"\" target=\"_blank\">the IG report<\/a>. Shulkin said that department leaders \u201chave found there are people sending emails from her account that aren\u2019t her\u201d and promised to determine who is behind the malfeasance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The claims come amid weeks of turmoil at the Department of Veterans Affairs, which<a href=\"https:\/\/www.militarytimes.com\/news\/2018\/01\/19\/trumps-go-to-guy-at-va-faces-first-major-opposition-from-republicans-on-capitol-hill\/\" title=\"\" class=\"\" target=\"_blank\"> had been one of the success stories<\/a> thus far for President Donald Trump\u2019s administration. Last year, lawmakers approved nine major bills related to veterans care and reforms, including accountability legislation championed by the president and appeals reform measures backed by Shulkin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But since the start of 2018, those positives have largely been overshadowed by internal fights and chaos.<\/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\/14\/report-blasts-va-secretary-for-improper-gifts-and-travel-lying-to-cover-up-scandal\/\" 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=\"200\" src=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/AP_17156647729401.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\">Report blasts VA secretary for improper gifts and travel, lying to cover up scandal<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"smg-interstitial-link__excerpt\">In response, VA Secretary David Shulkin insists that he did nothing wrong in accepting Wimbledon tickets and bringing his wife on an overseas business trip.<\/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\">Veterans groups have grown increasingly concerned about rival factions within the department\u2019s leadership in recent months. Rumors that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonpost.com\/world\/national-security\/white-house-targets-vas-deputy-secretary-as-a-warning-shot-to-agencys-leader\/2018\/02\/08\/cc052006-0d11-11e8-95a5-c396801049ef_story.html\" title=\"\" class=\"\" target=\"_blank\">White House was considering firing one of Shulkin\u2019s top deputies<\/a> to send a message to the secretary were downplayed by his supporters (and congressional leaders) but seen in the community as a worrisome power play within the administration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Wednesday\u2019s release of the scathing inspector general report added to that strife. The report listed multiple ethics and policy violations for an overseas trip last July, where VA officials paid for Shulkin\u2019s wife\u2019s airfare and he accepted free tickets to a Wimbledon match from an English businesswoman.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The report also criticized VA Chief of Staff Vivieca Wright Simpson for altering emails to help justify allowing Shulkin\u2019s wife to travel on official business, a charge the IG said could cross criminal lines. Shulkin said he believes her emails were hacked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Shulkin initially released a lengthy statement responding to the report asserting, \u201cI have done nothing wrong,\u201d but within hours it was replaced by a shorter, simpler release from <a href=\"https:\/\/www.va.gov\/opa\/pressrel\/pressrelease.cfm?id=4010\" title=\"\" class=\"selected-link\" target=\"_blank\" data-original-title=\"\" aria-describedby=\"popover23683\">VA spokeman Curt Cashour<\/a> saying only that the report was under review.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Internal VA emails showed the move was directed by officials within the White House, and that public affairs officials would coordinate with them on all future responses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">At a House Veterans\u2019 Affairs Committee hearing on Thursday, Shulkin repeated concerns about how the IG investigation was handled and their decision to ignore his lengthy rebuttal to the accusations. But he also said he would pay back the treasury for the disputed funds and commit to other reforms recommended in the report.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI do regret the decisions that have been made that have taken the focus off our (VA reform) work,\u201d he told lawmakers.<\/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\/news\/2018\/02\/13\/controveries-mount-as-va-officials-work-to-stay-focused-on-health-care-reforms\/\" 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\">Controversies mount as VA officials work to stay focused on health care reforms<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"smg-interstitial-link__excerpt\">After a calm 2017, VA leaders have seen numerous scandals and distractions in the first few weeks of 2018.<\/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\">Committee leaders said they will continue to look into the issue in coming weeks. Ranking member Rep. Tim Walz, D-Minn., said he would work with Shulkin on referring criminal charges to the Department of Justice if he provides additional proof of hacking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But committee member Rep. Mike Coffman, R-Colo., broke ranks with his fellow panel members and demanded Shulkin\u2019s immediate resignation for the scandal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He told reporters after the hearing that Shulkin\u2019s actions are indicative of a culture of corruption within VA, and said he believes the secretary \u2014 the only Cabinet-level holdover from President Barack Obama\u2019s administration \u2014 got the job only because Trump could not convince anyone else to take it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Shulkin brushed off those accusations after the hearing, and said he had no intention of resigning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI\u2019m going to stay focused,\u201d he said. \u201cI\u2019m not going to be distracted by issues like that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He also said he is in contact with White House officials (including the president) and is looking to keep them updated on department needs and policy challenges in the weeks ahead. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Lawmakers on the House panel said they hoped the controversy \u2014 which broke on the one-year anniversary of Shulkin\u2019s swearing-in as VA secretary \u2014 won\u2019t derail work on health care reforms and the fiscal 2019 department budget. But they also promised more questions for the IG and secretary before moving on from the issue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">.<a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/SecShulkin?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@SecShulkin<\/a> statement refuting VA IG report today (&quot;I have done nothing wrong&quot;) just disappeared online. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/EIxa8DGYqq\">https:\/\/t.co\/EIxa8DGYqq<\/a> Maybe a technical glitch? Here it is in case it doesn&#39;t reappear: <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/6YeW6NlKJg\">pic.twitter.com\/6YeW6NlKJg<\/a><\/p>&mdash; Leo Shane III (@LeoShane) <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/LeoShane\/status\/963847531498233857?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">February 14, 2018<\/a><\/blockquote><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.x.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">It&#39;s exactly corruption and abuses like this that doesn&#39;t help our veterans. <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/SecShulkin?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@SecShulkin<\/a> must RESIGN now. <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/realDonaldTrump?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@realDonaldTrump<\/a> ran on accountability, it starts here.  VA chief Shulkin, staff misled ethics officials about Eurotrip, report &#8211; The Washington Post <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/hJ3slooxQr\">https:\/\/t.co\/hJ3slooxQr<\/a><\/p>&mdash; Mike Coffman (@RepMikeCoffman) <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/RepMikeCoffman\/status\/963832919298134016?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">February 14, 2018<\/a><\/blockquote><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.x.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>David Shulkin is pushing back against accusations in a scathing IG report about an overseas trip, but says he will go along with investigators&#8217; recommendations.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":29761,"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-62844","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":"VZQOYYZZ7NHDVIXHJGKXECRCDA","arc_canonical_url":"\/veterans\/2018\/02\/15\/amid-travel-scandal-shulkin-vows-to-root-out-division-within-va-leadership\/","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>Amid travel scandal, Shulkin vows to root out division within VA leadership - Navy Times<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"David Shulkin is pushing back against accusations in a scathing IG report about an overseas trip, but says he will go along with investigators&#039; recommendations.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"noindex, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Amid travel scandal, Shulkin vows to root out division within VA leadership\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"David Shulkin is pushing back against accusations in a scathing IG report about an overseas trip, but says he will go along 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