Sen. Johnny Isakson, R-Ga., the chairman of the Veterans Affairs Committee, told President Donald Trump over the weekend that he had “full confidence” in embattled Veterans Affairs Secretary David Shulkin, Politico reports.
The report comes days after the AP said that Trump was considering replacing Shulkin with Energy Secretary Rick Perry because he believes Shulkin has become a distraction to the department’s work. The Washington Post later reported that Trump was considering Fox & Friends’ personality Pete Hegseth to take over the VA.
Shulkin has done “a great job” as secretary, Isakson told Politico on Monday. “Yes, there have been a few difficult times, but that’s because we’re making progress. I’ve talked to the president about my confidence in Shulkin.”
Trump has mostly praised Shulkin for his work at the VA, but the president has grown angry recently following a VA inspector general report that criticized Shulkin’s use of taxpayer funds to partially pay for a European trip.
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