Veterans Affairs Secretary David Shulkin, who’s come under scrutiny in recent weeks, is “extremely paranoid” about an impending watchdog report expected to criticize his improper use of security detail, the Daily Beast reports.
As the Beast notes, the Inspector General is prepared to call out Shulkin for allegedly using his bodyguards to run personal errands. That report is expected to be release within the next two weeks.
Tuesday, Assistant VA Secretary John Ullyot reportedly asked lawmakers to publicly demand his boss's resignation--an extraordinary move the official told USA Today "never happened."
The Inspector General report comes on the heels of another scandal involving the embattled VA secretary. Shulkin was cited by the IG last night for bringing his wife on a 2017 trip to Europe—and leaving taxpayers to foot the bill. A member of Shulkin’s staff also doctored an email to make it appear Shulkin’s wife’s trip was not untoward.
"I wouldn't call him a dead man walking, but it's close to that,” one source told the Daily Beast, adding people around Sulking have described his behavior as “extremely paranoid.”
VoteVets director of government relations Will Fischer framed the internal frustration with Shulkin in terms of “a coordinated effort to destroy and privatize” the VA.
"David Shulkin has done himself no favors,” Fishcer told the Beast. “We are not defending his actions. But we want people to realize there is a coordinated effort to destroy and privative our VA system. The people who want that know that if they can get Shulkin out it will happen all the quicker."