Tag: David Shulkin

Rex Tillerson is just the latest Trump aide to speak out after getting fired

The following article by James Hohmann with Breanne Deppisch and Joanie Greve was posted on the Washington Post website May 18, 2018:

Former Secretary of State Rex Tillerson warned against what he called “a crisis in ethics and integrity” in American government and business on May 16. (Reuters)

THE BIG IDEA: On “The Apprentice,” Donald Trump only fired 15 contestants each season. As president, he’s fired Cabinet secretaries and White House aides at a much higher rate.

The historically high level of turnover that’s characterized the past 16 months has created bad blood and future risk for Trump. Several people who got pushed out unceremoniously, including via Twitter, are now publicly, if implicitly, criticizing him. While most casualties of Trump’s chaotic administration have remained loyal, they are liabilities who could become land mines down the road. Continue reading “Rex Tillerson is just the latest Trump aide to speak out after getting fired”

Trump officials went on a taxpayer-funded shopping spree. Here’s the bill.

The following article by Adam Peck was posted on the ThinkProgress website April 24, 2018:

Last week, U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer joined the cabal of cabinet-level officials from the Trump White House who have to defend themselves against charges of misusing taxpayer dollars for his own benefit.

The New York Post discovered that Lighthizer had authorized nearly $1,000,000 in spending to renovate two of his Washington, DC offices on the taxpayer’s dime. That figure included a 30-inch, $859 plaque emblazoned with the words “Executive Office of the President,” 90 office chairs billed at $600 apiece, and a $3,500 antique desk for himself. Continue reading “Trump officials went on a taxpayer-funded shopping spree. Here’s the bill.”

Outgoing Trump administration officials keep sending distress signals

The following article by Aaron Blake was posted on the Washington Post website April 5, 2018:

H.R. McMaster departed as President Trump’s national security adviser on Tuesday — but not before he told us how he really felt.

“We have failed to impose sufficient costs [on Russia],” he said, implicitly faulting his own colleagues and President Trump. “For too long, some nations have looked the other way,” McMaster added, again seemingly targeting his own White House and, apparently, Trump’s overriding desire to make nice with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Continue reading “Outgoing Trump administration officials keep sending distress signals”

Fired VA Head David Shulkin Issues a Dire Warning on His Way Out the Door

The following article by Liz Posner was posted on the AlterNet website March 29, 2018:

The former Obama appointee fears privatization could harm veterans for years to come.

Credit: The Department of Veterans’ Affairs

Donald Trump did the inevitable Wednesday night and dismissed embattled Veteran Affairs Secretary David Shulkin. The former Obama official has been replaced by the president’s personal physician, Admiral Ronny Jackson, who has no qualifiable leadership experience and raised millions of eyebrows last year after publicly proclaiming that Trump was “in excellent health.” But Shulkin refused to go quietly, warning the country that the chaos in the White House could harm veterans for years to come.

In an op-ed for the New York Timespublished hours after his firing, Shulkin cited his various accomplishments during his tenure as the head of VA, including reducing veteran unemployment from 10.2 percent to 3.5 percent and cutting wait times for health care services. He also issued a blistering rebuke to the wave of free-market cheerleaders who have swept into the federal government since Trump’s election. Continue reading “Fired VA Head David Shulkin Issues a Dire Warning on His Way Out the Door”

Dems knock Shulkin’s ‘overly defensive’ response to report on Europe trip

The following article by Rebecca Kheel was posted on the Hill website February 22, 2018:

© Getty Images

Four Democrats, including the ranking member of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, said Thursday they are “troubled” by Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary David Shulkin’s “overly defensive” response to a scathing inspector general report about the secretary’s trip to Europe last year.

In a letter to Shulkin, the senators said he needs to officially tell the inspector general he will comply with all recommendations. Continue reading “Dems knock Shulkin’s ‘overly defensive’ response to report on Europe trip”

Controversies pile up for White House, alarming GOP

The following article by Jonathan Easley was posted on the Hill website February 21, 2018:

Credit: Mandel Ngan/AFP/Getty Images

President Trump’s White House is consumed by controversies on several fronts, putting the administration on the defensive at a time when Republicans are increasingly worried about their electoral prospects.

Republicans would be content to spend every day between now and Election Day focused on the GOP’s tax-cut bill and the economy. But those efforts are complicated by the sheer volume of controversies the White House is juggling. Continue reading “Controversies pile up for White House, alarming GOP”

VA chief says taxpayers didn’t pick up wife’s Europe expenses, despite previous agency statements

The following article by Lisa Rein was posted on the Washington Post website November 9, 2017:

U.S. Secretary of Veterans Affairs David Shulkin discusses a Sept. 29, 2017 Washington Post report about his July trip to Europe that mixed business and leisure activities. (Washington Post Live)

Veterans Affairs Secretary David Shulkin said Thursday that, contrary to a report in The Washington Post, taxpayers did not cover his wife’s expenses on a July trip to Europe that mixed official travel with sightseeing.

“There was nothing inappropriate about this,” Shulkin said, speaking at a Washington Post Live event on veterans’ issues. He rebuked the news organization for what he called “poor reporting.” Continue reading “VA chief says taxpayers didn’t pick up wife’s Europe expenses, despite previous agency statements”

VA chief took in Wimbledon, river cruise on European work trip; wife’s expenses covered by taxpayers

The following article by Jack Gillum, Alex Horton, Drew Harwell and Lisa Rein was posted on the Washington Post website September 29, 2017:

Members of President Trump’s Cabinet have been taking noncommercial flights at the expense of taxpayers, and Trump says he’s “not happy.” (Monica Akhtar/TWP)

Nearly three days into a trip to Europe this past July, Veterans Affairs Secretary David Shulkin had attended a Wimbledon championship tennis match, toured Westminster Abbey and taken a cruise on the Thames.

The 10-day trip was not entirely a vacation. Shulkin was in Europe for meetings with Danish and British officials about veterans’ health issues, so taxpayers picked up part of the tab. Continue reading “VA chief took in Wimbledon, river cruise on European work trip; wife’s expenses covered by taxpayers”