Trump loyalists at VA shuffling, purging employees before new secretary takes over

The following article by Lisa Rein was posted on the Washington Post website July 18, 2018:

Acting Veterans Affairs Secretary Peter O’Rourke attends a House Veterans Affairs subcommittee hearing about the Accountability and Whistleblower Protection Act. Credit: Jacquelyn Martin, AP

Ahead of Robert Wilkie’s likely confirmation to lead the Department of Veterans Affairs, Trump loyalists at the agency are taking aggressive steps to purge or reassign staff members perceived to be disloyal to President Trump and his agenda for veterans, according to multiple people familiar with the moves.

The transfers include more than a dozen career civil servants who have been moved from the leadership suite at VA headquarters and reassigned to lower-visibility roles. The employees served agency leaders, some dating back more than two decades, in crucial support roles that help a new secretary.

None said they were given reasons for their reassignments.

View the complete article on the Washington Post website here.