AFGE president blasts VA Secretary Shulkin's taxpayer-funded European vacation

WASHINGTON, Sept. 29, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The American Federation of Government Employees J. David Cox Sr. released the following statement in response to a Washington Post report regarding Veterans Affairs Secretary David Shulkin's travel expenses:

"Veterans Affairs Secretary David Shulkin should be ashamed of himself for traveling to Europe with his wife at taxpayers' expense ? especially as the VA grapples with funding shortfalls that undermine veterans' care.

"Mr. Shulkin needs to explain to veterans who are waiting for doctors' appointments how attending a Wimbledon tennis match, touring Westminster Abbey, and cruising along the River Thames with his wife helped them get treated faster.

"He also needs to explain to VA employees, many of whom are veterans, why he ordered a crackdown on their travel just two weeks before going on his taxpayer-funded European vacation. With 49,000 staffing vacancies to fill, our nation's veterans and the Veterans Affairs staff deserve to know how Secretary Shulkin intends on improving services at the VA.

"President Trump came to Washington with a promise to drain the swamp. He needs to start by holding his own Cabinet officials accountable to the public they serve."

The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) is the largest federal employee union, representing 700,000 workers in the federal government and the government of the District of Columbia.

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SOURCE American Federation of Government Employees