Veterans groups: ‘We cannot afford to start over’ with new VA leadership

A coalition of 20 veterans groups on Wednesday upped their efforts to keep Veterans Affairs Secretary Bob McDonald on into the next administration, warning President-elect Donald Trump that “we cannot afford to start over” given department reform progress in recent years.

“These efforts to transform and modernize the VA are showing early signs of success in the form of a better veteran experience and, if continued, we believe they have the potential to eventually make VA a model agency,” group members said in a letter to the incoming commander in chief.

“It is therefore of the utmost importance that you select someone willing and able to continue prioritization of this work. We believe that person is Sec. McDonald.”

The push, lead by officials at Got Your 6, includes signatures from the leaders at AMVETS, the Marine Corps Reserve Association, the National Military Family Association, Wounded Warrior Project and others.

Last week, members of the six largest veterans groups met with Trump’s VA transition team and also pushed for serious consideration of McDonald to stay on in the role.

Read the whole story from Military Times.

Featured image courtesy of the Department of Veterans Affairs.