Letter writer Edwin Begg discusses the president’s inaction with Veteran’s Affairs.
“Thank you for your service.” This is the praise and thanks we place on those who serve our country in the military. Where is President Trump in taking care of our veterans? Missing in action. He fired Secretary of the Veterans Administration Shulkin on March 28 and immediately nominated Admiral Jackson to replace him. Allegations against Admiral Jackson are in dispute (alcohol on the job, liberal sleeping pill dispensing to White House Staff, toxic work environment for employees in the White House Medical Unit), and he has stepped down. There is no dispute that the Veteran’s Administration is without a world-class leader. The Veterans Administration is on autopilot.
How big is Veteran’s Affairs? In the FY 2019 Budget, President Trump proposed a total of $198.6 billion. There are a reported 360,000 employees working at over 1,061 outpatient sites and 170 VA Medical Centers around the country, serving approximately 9 million veterans. This is a very large and very important government activity that deserves a leader.
Instead of searching for a new candidate, President Trump is in a childish, self-centered clash with Senator Tester, the ranking Democrat on the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, who revealed charges against Admiral Jackson.
For a president who is such a strong supporter of the active military, his disregard for veterans is outrageous. Mr. President, do your job. Get off your twitter device and nominate a qualified candidate.
Edwin Begg
