Four things to know:
1. Expense reports for the period between Oct. 21, 2018, and Jan. 19, 2019, obtained by ProPublica indicate the VA funded Darin Selnick’s twice-monthly trips to Washington. Mr. Selnick served as a senior adviser to VA Secretary Robert Wilkie and was instrumental in the creation of the department’s privatization rules released earlier this month.
2. Mr. Selnick held a different role in the Trump administration and lived in Washington from January 2017 until March or April 2018, earning a $165,000 salary. He rejoined the VA in October 2018 and began flying from his home in California for two weeks out of every month.
“It is unclear to me what role this person has at the VA, and why the VA is paying so much for him to travel back and forth,” House Committee on Veterans Affairs Chairman Mark Takano, D-Calif., said in a statement obtained by the publication. “The funding allocated to VA should be used efficiently and effectively to provide benefits and healthcare for our veterans.”
3. Records released to ProPublica show that the line on Mr. Selnick’s travel vouchers indicating his duty station were left blank. Mr. Selnick and two VA press officials declined to comment to ProPublica.
4. Several Trump administration officials have been scrutinized for travel issues. Former VA Secretary David Shulkin, MD, was fired in 2018 after the agency’s inspector general said he misused resources while on a trip to Europe, according to the report.
To access the full report, click here.
More articles on leadership:
Why Warren Buffett’s right-hand man would never hire Elon Musk
HHS to review Indian Health Service after documentary on pedophile physician airs
New York hospital apologizes for using ‘offensive display’ during sponsored event
