Trump considering former House Veterans’ Affairs chairman for VA secretary: report

President Trump is considering tapping former House Veterans’ Affairs Committee Chairman Jeff Miller (R-Fla.) to lead the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), according to the Washington Examiner.

A senior White House official told the outlet that Trump began thinking of Miller as a potential nominee after White House doctor Ronny Jackson withdrew his nomination for the position on Thursday. 

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“He may have somebody in mind, but I know that an official nominee is not imminent,” the official told the Examiner. “It’s not going to be this week, maybe not even next week.”

Miller in 2014 helped pass a bipartisan $16 billion VA reform plan. 

He retired from his legislative post in 2016. 

The Hill has reached out to the White House for comment. 

Trump said during an interview with “Fox & Friends” on Thursday that he was reviewing a candidate with “political capabilities.”

The report comes hours after Jackson dropped out of the running due to allegations of prescribing large amounts of opioid painkillers to a White House military staffer and wrecking a government vehicle. 

“Unfortunately, because of how Washington works, these false allegations have become a distraction for this president and the important issue we must be addressing — how we give the best care to our nation’s heroes,” Jackson said.  

– This story was updated April 27 at 10:20 p.m. to correct the figure for the VA reform bill passed in 2014