Iraq War veteran Rep. Gallego calls on President Trump to fire officials pushing privatization agenda at the VA
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Rep. Ruben Gallego (AZ-07), a Marine Corps combat veteran of the Iraq War, released the following statement:
"President Trump campaigned on improving care for our nation's veterans. But in office, his administration has pushed an extreme privatization agenda that veterans staunchly oppose.
"We learned in February that veterans policy in the Trump White House is controlled by high-ranking officials from a Koch brother-funded organization committed to ending the VA's indispensable role as a provider of direct care to veterans. It was also revealed that Trump advisors have actively worked to undermine Secretary Shulkin, sowing confusion and mistrust at the highest levels of the Department.
"While I've had my disagreements with Secretary Shulkin, America's veterans deserve competent, functioning leadership at the top of the VA. That is clearly impossible when the ideologues who staff Trump's Veterans Policy Coordinating Committee are determined to implement privatization policies over the objections of the Secretary, VA employees, national veterans organizations, and -- most importantly -- the vast majority of veterans themselves.
"That's why it's time to dismiss those officials in the Trump White House, including top veterans advisor Darin Selnick, who have sought to weaken and undermine the VA at every turn."