Skip to main content

The independent source for health policy research, polling, and news.

Subscribe Follow Us Donate
  • Trump 2.0

    Trump 2.0

    • Agency Watch
    • State Watch
    • Rural Health Payout
  • Public Health

    Public Health

    • Vaccines
    • CDC & Disease
    • Environmental Health
  • Audio Reports

    Audio Reports

    • What the Health?
    • Health Care Helpline
    • KFF Health News Minute
    • An Arm and a Leg
    • Health Hub
    • HealthQ
    • Silence in Sikeston
    • Epidemic
    • See All Audio
  • Special Reports

    Special Reports

    • Bill Of The Month
    • The Body Shops
    • Broken Rehab
    • Deadly Denials
    • Priced Out
    • Dead Zone
    • Diagnosis: Debt
    • Overpayment Outrage
    • Opioid Settlement Tracking
    • See All Special Reports
  • More Topics

    More Topics

    • Elections
    • Health Care Costs
    • Insurance
    • Prescription Drugs
    • Health Industry
    • Immigration
    • Reproductive Health
    • Technology
    • Rural Health
    • Race and Health
    • Aging
    • Mental Health
    • Affordable Care Act
    • Medicare
    • Medicaid
    • Children’s Health

  • Surgeon General
  • Cigna’s ACA Exit
  • Visa Program
  • Medicaid Work Requirements
  • Gavin Newsom

TRENDING TOPICS:

  • Surgeon General
  • Cigna's ACA Exit
  • Visa Program
  • Medicaid Work Requirements
  • Gavin Newsom

Morning Briefing

Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations

  • Email

Thursday, Apr 5 2018

Full Issue

Acting VA Secretary Steps In Amid Weeks Of Turmoil, Low Morale Following Shulkin's Departure

Robert Wilkie is filling the position as President Donald Trump's nominee awaits Senate confirmation. “[Wilkie] came in and said, ‘Look, guys, I wasn’t planning on being here, but I want to make a difference while I’m here,’" a senior VA official said.

The Washington Post: VA’s Acting Secretary Takes Over: ‘I Don’t Think He Has Any Idea What He’s Gotten Himself Into’

Amid reports of slumping morale following last week’s ousting of Veterans Affairs Secretary David Shulkin, the agency’s new acting head told employees Wednesday that he intends to refocus an organization beset by internal division. Robert Wilkie has been walking the halls of VA’s Washington headquarters, holding meetings with small groups of employees and inquiring about their duties, said a senior VA official who spoke on the condition of anonymity because the person is not authorized to speak with the media. In a three-minute video distributed to employees Wednesday, Wilkie, 55, emphasized the agency’s sacred mission of caring for those who have fought the nation’s wars. (Wax-Thibodeaux, 4/4)

This is part of the Morning Briefing, a summary of health policy coverage from major news organizations. Sign up for an email subscription.
Newsletter icon

Sign Up For Our Newsletter

Stay informed by signing up for the Morning Briefing and other emails:

Recent Morning Briefings

  • Friday, May 1
  • Thursday, April 30
  • Wednesday, April 29
  • Tuesday, April 28
  • Monday, April 27
  • Friday, April 24
More Morning Briefings
RSS Feeds
  • Podcasts
  • Special Reports
  • Morning Briefing
  • About Us
  • Donate
  • Staff
  • Republish Our Content
  • Contact Us

Follow Us

  • Instagram
  • YouTube
  • LinkedIn
  • Facebook
  • X
  • Bluesky
  • TikTok
  • RSS

Sign up for emails

Join our email list for regular updates based on your personal preferences.

Sign up
  • Editorial Policy
  • Privacy Policy

© 2026 KFF