A key Republican senator told President Donald Trump over the weekend that he had “full confidence” in Veterans Affairs Secretary David Shulkin, as Senate Republicans fret that Shulkin’s rumored replacement would be impossible to make sure that.
Sen. Johnny Isakson (R-Ga.), chairman on the Veterans Affairs Committee, said he earned the way it is to keep Shulkin after a discussion with the president about legislation on veterans care. Trump has been mulling firing Shulkin after reports that Shulkin used taxpayer funds a visit to Europe, and potentially replacing him which includes a Fox News personality, Pete Hegseth, using the Washington Post.
Story Continued Below
Republicans don’t need that prefer.
Shulkin is performing “a great job” as secretary, Isakson said in the interview on Monday evening. “Yes, there are several trying times, but that’s because we’re making progress. I’ve spoke to obama about my confidence in Shulkin.”
Hegseth can be enormously difficult to confirm if he were Shulkin’s replacement, depending on two Republican aides. Republicans control just 51 seats while in the Senate, and Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) is recovering from cancer treatment. The aides said GOP senators oppose Hegseth for his criticism within their work.
Hegseth has attacked Isakson in the past as a “so-called Republican” as well as a “Swamp-creature” for dealing with Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) on veterans legislation.
Isakson declined to present his the thing it Hegseth on Monday, and said he was “not aware” of the serious want to replace Shulkin, whom he known as “good man” who’s “gotten his hands dirty” on veterans issues.
