HHS/VA/VETS: “David Shulkin, the current U.S. Secretary of Veterans Affairs and a holdover from the Obama administration, has been interviewed by the White House for the top job at Health and Human Services, according to sources familiar with the meetings.
He is one of a number of leading contenders for the position, which has been vacant since late September when former HHS Secretary Tom Price resigned over criticism of his use of private and military planes…
Representatives from multiple veteran advocacy groups said rumors of Dr. Shulkin’s interest in switching agencies has been known among some in the community. A VA spokeswoman would neither confirm nor deny Dr. Shulkin’s interview, and a spokesman referred all questions about cabinet-level positions to the White House.
The White House official said that Dr. Shulkin has ‘made his case’ for becoming the next department secretary. Working against him might be the success he has had at the VA, this person said. Both Dr. Shulkin and Ms. Verma have done well in their present positions—a reason President Donald Trump may have no wish to move them, the official said.”
-Stephanie Armour, Ben Kesling, and Peter Nicholas, “Veterans Affairs Head Interviews for Health and Human Services Post,” Oct. 13, 2017 07:52pm