Election 2016

Trump Maintains Status Quo at the VA

Written by SK Ashby

Despot-elect Donald Trump spent most of the past two years painting the Department of Veterans Affairs as an unmitigated disaster, but this morning he committed to maintaining the status quo.

During his dumpster fire of a press conference, Trump announced that he has nominated David Shulkin.

"And by the way, speaking of veterans, I appointed today the head secretary of the Veterans Administration, David Shulkin," Trump said during a wide-ranging press conference, adding, "He's fantastic. He will do a truly great job." [...]

Prior to being nominated by President Obama and unanimously confirmed by the Senate in June 2015, Shulkin served as president of Morristown Medical Center, Gorybe Children's Hospital, and Atlantic Rehabilitation Institute, and the Atlantic Health System Accountable Care Organization.

That's right, Trump has nominated an Obama alumni who's been with the supposedly scandal-ridden, disastrous department for nearly two years.

I don't see this as a sign that Trump necessarily has confidence in an Obama appointee or that he believes the department's problems have been resolved. In fact, Trump probably couldn't even tell you what challenges the department faces.

I see it as a sign that he never really cared one way or the other to begin with. Veterans are just another campaign prop for him and most of the GOP.