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David Shulkin: Sacked secretary in parting shot at Trump David Shulkin: Sacked secretary in parting shot at Trump
(about 1 hour later)
Fired US Veterans Affairs Secretary David Shulkin has labelled Washington "toxic" in a parting shot at President Donald Trump. Sacked US Veterans Affairs Secretary David Shulkin has fired a parting shot at President Donald Trump in media interviews.
Mr Shulkin said he was fired because he was opposed to plans within the Trump administration to privatise healthcare for veterans. Mr Shulkin said figures within the administration were planning to privatise veterans' healthcare, and he lost his job because he opposed them.
President Trump replaced Mr Shulkin on Wednesday with the White House doctor, Rear Admiral Ronny Jackson.President Trump replaced Mr Shulkin on Wednesday with the White House doctor, Rear Admiral Ronny Jackson.
It was the latest in a series of departures from Mr Trump's cabinet.It was the latest in a series of departures from Mr Trump's cabinet.
This month alone, the president has replaced Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and National Security Adviser HR McMaster, while his top economic adviser Gary Cohn also left. Meanwhile, White House communications director Hope Hicks' last day was on Wednesday. This month alone, the president has fired Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and National Security Adviser HR McMaster, while his top economic adviser Gary Cohn also left. Meanwhile, White House communications director Hope Hicks' last day was on Wednesday.
Mr Trump announced Mr Shulkin's sacking on Twitter, posting: "I am thankful for Dr David Shulkin's service to our country and to our GREAT VETERANS!"
What did Shulkin say?
In a scathing column for the New York Times, Mr Shulkin wrote: "As I prepare to leave government, I am struck by a recurring thought: It should not be this hard to serve your country."In a scathing column for the New York Times, Mr Shulkin wrote: "As I prepare to leave government, I am struck by a recurring thought: It should not be this hard to serve your country."
He said that in recent months "the environment in Washington has turned so toxic, chaotic, disrespectful and subversive that it became impossible for me to accomplish the important work that our veterans need and deserve".He said that in recent months "the environment in Washington has turned so toxic, chaotic, disrespectful and subversive that it became impossible for me to accomplish the important work that our veterans need and deserve".
The former hospital administrator, who first served under President Barack Obama, said "advocates within the administration for privatising" veterans' healthcare services "saw me as an obstacle to privatisation who had to be removed". The former hospital administrator, who first served under President Barack Obama, said that "advocates within the administration for privatising" veterans' healthcare services "saw me as an obstacle to privatisation who had to be removed".
In an interview with National Public Radio (NPR) on Thursday morning, Mr Shulkin said a critical report by an internal watchdog was used by the White House as a pretext to get rid of him. It is traditional for departing cabinet secretaries to thank the president for giving them the opportunity to serve, but Mr Shulkin pointedly made no reference to Mr Trump.
Wasn't Shulkin accused of wrongdoing?
In an interview with National Public Radio (NPR) on Thursday morning, Mr Shulkin said a critical report by an internal watchdog had been used by the White House as a pretext to get rid of him.
The inspector general's report found that Mr Shulkin and his wife used an official trip to Europe last summer to sightsee and improperly accepted tickets for the Wimbledon tennis tournament.The inspector general's report found that Mr Shulkin and his wife used an official trip to Europe last summer to sightsee and improperly accepted tickets for the Wimbledon tennis tournament.
"There was nothing improper about this trip, and I was not allowed to put up an official statement or to even respond to this by the White House," he said."There was nothing improper about this trip, and I was not allowed to put up an official statement or to even respond to this by the White House," he said.
"I think this was really just being used in a political context to try to make sure that I wasn't as effective as a leader moving forward.""I think this was really just being used in a political context to try to make sure that I wasn't as effective as a leader moving forward."
The inspector general determined that during the nine-day trip, the secretary and his wife spent $122,000 (£87,000) on "sightseeing and other unofficial activities".The inspector general determined that during the nine-day trip, the secretary and his wife spent $122,000 (£87,000) on "sightseeing and other unofficial activities".
Mr Shulkin agreed last month to reimburse the government for his wife's airfare, which was more than $4,300.Mr Shulkin agreed last month to reimburse the government for his wife's airfare, which was more than $4,300.
What's the reaction?
Some veterans have questioned the qualifications of Mr Shulkin's replacement, Ronny Jackson.Some veterans have questioned the qualifications of Mr Shulkin's replacement, Ronny Jackson.
"We are disappointed and already quite concerned about this nominee," said Joe Chenelly, the national executive director of AMVETS. "We are disappointed and already quite concerned about this nominee," said Joe Chenelly, the national executive director of American Veterans.
"The administration needs to be ready to prove that he's qualified to run such a massive agency, a $200 billion bureaucracy," he added."The administration needs to be ready to prove that he's qualified to run such a massive agency, a $200 billion bureaucracy," he added.
The group Disabled American Veterans said it was "extremely concerned about the existing leadership vacuum" at the Department of Veterans Affairs.The group Disabled American Veterans said it was "extremely concerned about the existing leadership vacuum" at the Department of Veterans Affairs.
"At a time of critical negotiations over the future of @VeteransHealth care reform, @DeptVetAffairs today has no Secretary, no UnderSecretary of Health or Benefits and the named Acting Secretary has no background in health care and no apparent experience working in or with the VA," the group wrote on Twitter."At a time of critical negotiations over the future of @VeteransHealth care reform, @DeptVetAffairs today has no Secretary, no UnderSecretary of Health or Benefits and the named Acting Secretary has no background in health care and no apparent experience working in or with the VA," the group wrote on Twitter.