President Trump cited the Phoenix Veterans Health Administration scandal on Thursday as he called on Congress to pass a bill funding the Veteran’s Choice Program.
“This spring marks 4yrs since the Phoenix VA crisis. We won’t forget what happened to our GREAT VETS. Choice is vital, but the program needs work & is running out of $. Congress must fix Choice Program by Memorial Day so VETS can get the care they deserve. I will sign immediately!” Trump tweeted
This spring marks 4yrs since the Phoenix VA crisis. We won’t forget what happened to our GREAT VETS. Choice is vital, but the program needs work & is running out of $. Congress must fix Choice Program by Memorial Day so VETS can get the care they deserve. I will sign immediately!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 3, 2018
The VA’s choice program is one of several through which a veteran can receive outside healthcare from a provider, paid for by VA. The program’s funds were set to reach exhaustion by January 2018, and Trump signed a continuing resolution last December to fund the program through 2018.
This year marks the four-year anniversary of the Phoenix VA scandal which exposed misconduct and gross negligence at the VA, sparking a national outcry for reform.
Last June, Trump also fulfilled a campaign promise by signing a bill that simplified the process of firing bad employees of the Department of Veterans Affairs.
