Both Republican and Democratic senators are saying that leadership at the VA is vital and are hoping that President Donald Trump’s next nominee to lead the department will be less controversial than Ronny Jackson, The Hill reported.
Sen. Mike Rounds, who is on the Senate VA Committee, said that stability at the head of the agency is "critical."
Jackson withdrew his name Thursday amid allegations that he had engaged in professional misconduct, including dispensing prescription medication freely and creating a hostile work environment. Concern remains that Trump’s next choice could also be politically divisive, the report said.
"The VA Committee has been a very good committee, and I think there’s folks who’ve tried to insert politics into the VA, and that’s not what we do around here," said Sen. Jon Tester, D-Mont.
Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., took aim at the vetting process for Jackson, the White House physician.
"The White House bungled this nomination from the start—fumbling the facts and vetting and then failing to produce documents. Veterans deserve a first class manager with unquestionable integrity and ability," said Blumenthal, The Hill reported.
"The fact that those allegations were out there shows there were problems with the vetting process. … I hope that the administration has learned from this experience," said Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine.
Other allegations of misconduct against Jackson surfaced Friday, when five of the White House medical unit’s former and current employees said the unit, under Jackson, frequently served as a "grab and go" clinic where staff members could get prescription drugs without being examined by a doctor, CNN reported.
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