Former Veterans Affairs Secretary Robert Wilkie will lead Protection Division transition efforts for President-elect Donald Trump’s incoming administration, based on sources near the operations.
Along with the highest submit at VA, Wilkie additionally served because the Pentagon’s high personnel official throughout the first Trump administration.
In a press release launched Wednesday, Trump transition staff co-chairs Linda McMahon and Howard Lutnick mentioned the main target of the assorted handover efforts might be “choosing personnel to serve our nation below [Trump’s] management and to enact insurance policies that make the lifetime of Individuals reasonably priced, protected, and safe.”
Wilkie’s function was first reported by Politico.
Wilkie served from July 2018 to January 2021 as essentially the most senior official at VA, changing Trump’s first secretary for the division, Dr. David Shulkin. He additionally served as appearing secretary for 2 months previous to his Senate affirmation.
As secretary, he oversaw the preliminary levels of the division’s digital well being data overhaul and the primary 12 months of the COVID-19 pandemic inside the VA well being care system.
Wilkie courted controversy late in his time period after a VA inspector normal report criticized his mishandling of a sexual assault allegation towards a veteran visiting the Washington, D.C., VA Medical Middle.
The report detailed how Wilkie directed an investigation into the sufferer, a Democratic congressional aide, and labored behind the scenes to discredit her. The inspector normal labeled his actions “unprofessional” however didn’t discover any prison wrongdoing.
Nonetheless, greater than two dozen Democratic members of Congress and 20 veterans teams — together with the Veterans of Overseas Wars and American Legion — publicly known as for Wilkie’s resignation or firing. Neither occurred, and he left workplace after Trump’s time period expired.
Since then, Wilkie has labored as a army and veterans knowledgeable on the America First Coverage Institute, a conservative suppose tank launched by former Trump appointees in 2021.
As head of the protection transition efforts, Wilkie will lead Trump’s seek for a brand new protection secretary, in addition to different senior civilian management posts inside the army.
Republicans are anticipated to carry a majority within the Senate subsequent 12 months, easing the trail to affirmation for these picks.
Leo covers Congress, Veterans Affairs and the White Home for Army Instances. He has lined Washington, D.C. since 2004, specializing in army personnel and veterans insurance policies. His work has earned quite a few honors, together with a 2009 Polk award, a 2010 Nationwide Headliner Award, the IAVA Management in Journalism award and the VFW Information Media award.
