Vets group to Trump: Remove acting VA secretary, elevate deputy to job

One of the nation’s largest veterans organizations is urging President Trump to install the Veterans Affairs Department’s deputy as acting secretary rather than the Pentagon official he chose.

In a letter to Trump on Tuesday, American Veterans (AMVETS) expressed concern that Robert Wilkie has no experience at the VA and that federal law calls for the department’s deputy to take over the vacancy left by the departure of former Secretary David Shulkin.

“Send Robert Wilkie back to the Pentagon and elevate Deputy Secretary [Thomas] Bowman to acting secretary,” AMVETS National Commander Marion Polk wrote. “This is what common sense, veterans and the law all require, and it needs to happen now.”

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Trump chose Wilkie, the undersecretary of Defense for personnel and readiness, to serve as acting VA secretary after Shulkin’s ouster while his new nominee, White House physician Ronny Jackson, awaits confirmation.

In choosing Wilkie, Trump bypassed VA Deputy Secretary Thomas Bowman, seen as an ally of Shulkin’s who many expect will resign or be fired as well.

Federal law allows a president to temporarily fill an executive agency job if the officeholder “dies, resigns, or is otherwise unable to perform the functions and duties of office.” The law doesn’t explicitly state whether it applies when someone is fired.

The White House over the weekend began describing Shulkin’s departure as a resignation, but Shulkin has continued to insist he was fired.

In its letter, AMVETS argued that sidestepping Bowman in favor of Wilkie is a “confusing choice that only serves to erode confidence in the VA as an institution during this critical time.”

Bowman, AMVETS said, is “exceedingly qualified” to serve as acting secretary and “the law predesignates him for elevation to acting secretary.”

Bowman is a retired Marine colonel, former majority staff director of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee and former chief of staff for two VA secretaries in the George W. Bush administration.

“He has earned the trust of Congress, and he’s clearly the best positioned and equipped to lead the VA right now and provide the continuity of vision and effort that the progress made so far deserves, and that he alone can ensure,” Polk wrote.

By contrast, Polk said, Wilkie “may be a very bright person and leader,” but he has no VA experience.

“He’s at square one, as any outsider would be,” Polk wrote. “And while there’s no doubt he would grow into the position over time, veterans don’t have that time. Veterans can’t wait.”