The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is the second-largest government agency in the US. The VA has an annual budget of $186 billion, employs 370,000, and serves an estimated 20 million veterans. A recent report by ProPublica found that three members of Trump’s Mar-A-Lago golf club, who have neither government nor military experience, are secretly influencing the governance and operations of this massive agency. ProPublica reports that Ike Perlmutter, the CEO of Marvel Entertainment; Bruce Moskowitz, a physician; and Marc Sherman, an attorney, have acted as shadow administrators of the VA since Trump began his presidency. The so-called “Mar-A-Lago” crowd was instrumental in the ouster of former VA administrator David Shulkin and has assumed a direct decision-making role within the agency.
The Trump administration has been embroiled in so many relentless scandals that it is hard to focus on any one. However, secretly handing leadership of the VA over to three golf club members represents staggeringly poor decision making and massive corruption at the expense of our country’s military service people. As Rep. Don Beyer (D-VA) stated, “Trump gave power to make decisions at the VA – affecting every US veteran – to three men who are neither government officials nor vets. Their only qualification: membership at Mar-A-Lago, for which they pay Trump.” The Veterans’ Affairs Oversight Committees in both the House and Senate must immediately investigate the “Mar-A-Lago Crowd,” how they came to power, and how they personally benefited from their role. The corruption of the Trump administration must not go unanswered.
Rep. Michael Turner(202) 225-6465
Sen. Rob Portman(202) 224-3353
Sen. Sherrod Brown(202) 224-2315
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Hi, my name is [NAME] and I’m a citizen from Dayton.
IF COMMITTEE, ADD I’d like to pass along a message to the Chairman and members of the committee.
I’m calling to demand hearings and an investigation into the “Mar-A-Lago Crowd” VA corruption scandal. Three members of Trump’s golf club should not be allowed to secretly run the VA. Our veterans deserve better.
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