President Trump is looking seriously at former House Veterans’ Affairs Committee Chair Jeff Miller to lead the Department of Veterans Affairs, a senior White House official told the Washington Examiner.
The retired Florida congressman left the House in 2016 after serving eight terms on Capitol Hill, during which he became a major advocate for the nation’s veterans. Miller, a conservative Republican, helped usher a $16 million bipartisan VA reform plan through Congress in 2014 when the second-largest federal agency was beset by scandals. The bill was signed into law three years after he was named chairman of the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee.
Miller emerged as a leading candidate for VA secretary after White House physician Ronny Jackson withdrew his nomination early Thursday. The Navy doctor faced an uphill confirmation battle in the Senate after allegations of excessive drinking and improper drug distribution emerged. Jackson denied all of the claims made against him.
Trump told Fox News during an interview Thursday that he was already looking at someone with “political capabilities” for the top VA position, though he declined to identify a specific person.
“He may have somebody in mind, but I know that an official nominee is not imminent,” said the senior White House official. “It’s not going to be this week, maybe not even next week.”
The same official said the names of some individuals whom Trump had considered prior to selecting Jackson “are being refreshed.”
