Trump Expected To Fire Veterans Affairs Secretary David Shulkin, Replace With Rick Perry

White House leaks
WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 09: U.S. President Donald Trump delivers remarks before signing an executive order supporting veterans as they transition from military to civilian life in the Oval Office at the White House January 9, 2018 in Washington, DC. Veterans Affairs Secretary David Shulkin emphasized that the executive order will work to help further prevent veterans suicide. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

Here at The Political Insider, we dubbed yesterday “Bloody Tuesday” as President Trump went on a big staff purge, ousting Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, Under Secretary Steve Goldstein, and even his personal assistant John McEntee.

Rumors have been swirling around for months that Tillerson was on the chopping block, so Trump’s decision to go through with the high-profile firing wasn’t surprising. But the subsequent dismissing of Tillerson’s right-hand man came as a shock. As did relieving McEntee of his position.

Now, there are reports that Trump isn’t done. This week, he’s planning another Cabinet shakeup, this time replacing Veterans Affairs Secretary David Shulkin with current Secretary of the Department of Energy Rick Perry.

Daily Mail has the full story:

President Donald Trump is considering firing embattled Veterans Affairs Secretary David Shulkin and replacing him with Energy Secretary Rick Perry – hours after terminating Rex Tillerson by Twitter on Tuesday morning.

A source familiar with the White House discussions tells The Associated Press that Trump has floated the notion of the Cabinet reshuffle as a way to right the ship at the VA, believing Shulkin has become a distraction to the department’s work.

The source was not authorized to discuss internal deliberations.

Replacing Shulkin has become a necessity at this point. Under Obama, the VA was revealed to be in shambles, suffering from poor oversight and little accountability for incompetent employees. One of the biggest planks of Donald Trump’s presidential campaign was fixing up the VA, and ensuring that our veterans, many of whom are still scarred and wounded from fighting overseas, get the adequate care they deserve.

Shulkin has so far failed at that job. It doesn’t help matters that Shulkin has been embroiled in scandal, namely using taxpayer dollars to bring his wife on a European vacation. Congressional Democrats and Republicans alike have called on the VA Secretary to resign.

Trump reportedly had lunch with Perry at the White House on Tuesday, but there was no confirmation of a job offer. But with President Trump, moves happen fast, at the speed of his own mouth or tweets sometimes. Keep an eye out for another big White House realignment coming sometime later this week.

What do you think of this news? Would Rick Perry make a good VA secretary? Tell us your thoughts below on Trump’s big purge week, and share this story now to let your friends and family know another big shakeup is just around the corner!

Jim E. is a true political insider, with experience working both in Washington and outside in real America. Jim... More about Jim E

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