Former Veterans Affairs Administrator Anthony Principi said that he found it “astounding” that three members of President Trump’s exclusive resort club Mar-a-Lago influenced hiring at the agency, according to a published report.
Nonprofit news service ProPublica reported that White House staff allowed billionaire Ike Perlmutter, physician Bruce Moskowitz, and lawyer Marc Sherman to help determine staffing at the agency.
The Washington newspaper News Tribune reported that Principi recalled former President George W. Bush had wanted him to get experienced people. Principi served as the VA secretary for Bush starting in 2001.
“He said, ‘Tony, you select your team. I am holding you accountable,'” Principi recounted. “‘You surround yourself with dedicated, knowledgeable, experienced people who really care about the mission. The only thing I ask of you is to please coordinate with White House Office of Personnel. Let them know what you’re doing.’”
Principi added that he surrounded himself with Democrats and Republicans, according to the News Tribune.
He added that if the allegations by ProPublica are true, then it is not good governance.
The Senate recently confirmed Robert Wilkie to serve as VA secretary. He succeeds David Shulkin, who was fired on Twitter by Trump after reportedly pushing back on efforts to privatize more of the agency.
