During an interview on Thursday’s edition of the Fox News Channel’s “Special Report,” former VA Secretary Dr. David Shulkin stated that he agrees with President Trump’s dissatisfaction with the VA’s pace and the president “has the right to have the secretary that he wants with him.” Shulkin added that he had started the process of reforming the VA.
Shulkin said, “I think we heard today from the president that he wasn’t happy with the pace. And, you know, I agree with the president. This is an organization that needs to change. It needs to do better at its job and we all want to do it faster and better because it’s so important to the country. And I think the president has the right to have the secretary that he wants with him.”
He added, “I was part of the administration until yesterday, we are not trying to privatize the VA. We are trying to improve and transform the VA. What I said in my editorial is that there are a number of political appointees within VA that are pushing to privatize much faster than I think is in the interest of veterans and is the safe way to care for our veterans, and I’ve stood up for them.”
Shulkin later stated, “I don’t think the president should be happy with where we were, and as secretary, I wasn’t happy with where we were. We have to figure out how to move this bureaucracy faster and be more responsive. … So, this is a system that needs to be pushed. Many of the bureaucratic elements need to be restructured. I’ve started that process. I hope that Dr. Jackson will continue that process because it needs to be done.”
Follow Ian Hanchett on Twitter @IanHanchett
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