President Trump just made it official.
The President just nominated Robert Wilkie to head up the Veterans Affairs department. This nomination comes after President Trump’s previous nomination, White House doctor Ronny Jackson, withdrew his name from the nomination process. (RELATED: Ronny Jackson Withdraws Nomination for VA Director).
Politico reports the following:
President Donald Trump on Friday announced he would tap current acting Veterans Affairs Secretary Robert Wilkie to be the department’s next permanent leader, joking that he had “ruined the surprise” for the previously unaware Wilkie.
A former aide to Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) and Pentagon official, Wilkie must be confirmed by the Senate before becoming the VA’s permanent leader.
BREAKING: Trump taps Wilkie as next Veterans Affairs secretary https://t.co/Jc4CdwzdKA pic.twitter.com/8z3L1qG43x
— POLITICO (@politico) May 18, 2018
Wilkie has been the acting director of the VA since the departure of David Shulkin back in March. (RELATED: Shulkin Says The White House Silenced Him – He Actually Responded To Allegations Three Times).
Robert Wilkie, @DeptVetAffairs Acting Secretary: “The president’s gift underscores his promise to do all that he can for veterans.” pic.twitter.com/K9fInxsjdr
— FOX Business (@FoxBusiness) May 17, 2018
This is a much-needed move by President Trump. It will bring certainty and leadership to a government agency in dire need of it. No government agency can operate effectively without an acting department head for very long.
The VA has been languishing in scandal for years now, as the federal government fails to provide adequate care to veterans. President Trump vowed to reform the agency, and now he has put a new man in charge in order to accomplish that mission.
It’s also good that Trump found a nominee qualified to lead the agency. Dr. Jackson, despite years of dedicated service to three presidents, was unjustly smeared by Senate Democrats when he was nominated.
Now Wilkie needs to go through the Senate confirmation process in order to be fully confirmed as Secretary of the VA.
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