JOHN KELLY/TRUMP PEOPLE/VA: “The search for a new Veterans Affairs chief is wide open, with President Donald Trump considering as potential nominees a former Republican congressman, a hospital executive and his White House chief of staff, John Kelly, people familiar with the matter said. Dr. Ronny Jackson, the president’s doctor, pulled out of the running last week amid allegations of misconduct, and Mr. Trump has publicly said he wants someone with ‘political capability’ to run the 370,000-person department. But another priority is picking someone with a strong chance of winning Senate confirmation, a person close to the White House said. Mr. Kelly, who took over as chief of staff last year with a mandate to bring discipline to a White House beset by infighting, is a retired Marine general who previously served as secretary of homeland security. The Senate confirmed him for the homeland security post 88-11.”
– Peter Nicholas, “Trump Considering Kelly as Possible Candidate to Lead VA,” The Wall Street Journal, April 30, 2018 8:32 pm