White House physician Ronny Jackson maintains President Trump’s support to lead the Veterans Affairs Department, the White House said Tuesday, hours after the Senate delayed Jackson’s confirmation hearing due to damaging allegations against his leadership style.
“Admiral Jackson has been on the front lines of deadly combat and saved the lives of many others in service to this country,” deputy White House press secretary Hogan Gidley said in a statement to the Washington Examiner.
Gidley continued, “He’s served as the physician to three Presidents — Republican and Democrat — and been praised by them all. Admiral Jackson’s record of strong, decisive leadership is exactly what’s needed at the VA to ensure our veterans receive the benefits they deserve.”
Jackson was due to appear before the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs on Wednesday to field questions about his ability to lead the second-largest Cabinet agency, which lawmakers have long viewed as one of the least efficient and most corrupt executive departments. The Navy admiral was nominated to lead the VA on March 28, days after Trump fired former VA Secretary David Shulkin.
Members of the Senate panel told the Washington Post late Monday night that Jackson was being vetted by the committee to determine whether he is qualified for the position. According to ABC News, the committee is also looking into a series of allegations involving Jackson’s conduct inside the White House and during his naval career.
“There are reasons, as there are with every presidential appointee, for very close scrutiny and vetting. we need to know if allegations raised by others may have some factual basis,” Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., told reporters on Monday. “That’s the process of vetting that has to occur.”
