Pushing the government to the brink of a partial shutdown, the White House is insisting that Congress provide $5 billion to build a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border despite lawmaker resistance from both parties. Continue reading →
{FD} AP FACT CHECK: Trump exaggerates VA gains in veterans speech
President Donald Trump is exaggerating the progress he’s made on his campaign promise to provide veterans with quick medical treatment from private doctors if they’re dissatisfied with Department of Veterans Affairs care. Continue reading →
{FD} Trump’s pick to head VA: Time to ‘shake up’ department
President Donald Trump’s pick to lead Veterans Affairs promised Wednesday to “shake up complacency” at the struggling department by expanding private care to better meet the growing health needs of veterans, but he rejected a wholesale dismantling of VA. Continue reading →
{FD} Low-key Washington insider makes a bid to fix struggling VA
Modest and low-key, Robert Wilkie was hastily dispatched to lead the Department of Veterans Affairs after a furious President Donald Trump fired Secretary David Shulkin amid political infighting at the department. Continue reading →
{FD} House poised to expand private care at VA, fix budget crisis
The House is set to give veterans more leeway to see doctors outside the Department of Veterans Affairs’ health system. Continue reading →
{FD} Senators considering a delay for VA confirmation hearing
Senators are discussing plans to delay the confirmation hearing for President Donald Trump’s pick to be Veteran Affairs secretary over growing questions about the nominee’s ability to manage the government’s second-largest department. Continue reading →
{FD} Shulkin intends to stay in VA post with White House support
Veterans Affairs Secretary David Shulkin, fighting for political survival over travel abuse, says he has the president’s trust and will not be leaving his post. Continue reading →
{FD} Shulkin to pay back some expenses after Europe trip faulted
Veterans Affairs Secretary David Shulkin on Thursday pledged to repay more than $4,000 for his wife’s airfare for an 11-day trip to Europe that mixed business and sightseeing. Continue reading →
{FD} Watchdog’s report faults VA chief over Europe trip expenses
An internal watchdog’s investigation has found that Veterans Affairs Secretary David Shulkin improperly accepted Wimbledon tennis tickets and likely wrongly used taxpayer money to cover his wife’s airfare for an 11-day European trip. Continue reading →
{FD} AP FACT CHECK: Trump overstates progress at Veterans Affairs
President Donald Trump has painted a rosy picture of an improved Department of Veterans Affairs under his watch. Continue reading →
{FD} House unveils plan to fix VA’s budget gap as deadline looms
A House committee has unveiled a plan that would allow the Department of Veterans Affairs to shift $2 billion from other programs to cover a sudden budget shortfall that threatens medical care for thousands of veterans in the coming weeks. Continue reading →
