Trump considering Navy Adm. Michelle Howard to run VA: report

President-elect Donald Trump is considering Navy Adm. Michelle Howard to head the Department of Veterans Affairs, the New York Times’ Maggie Haberman reported Thursday.

Trump transition said to be eyeing Navy Admiral Michelle Howard to head the VA. Link tk

— Maggie Haberman (@maggieNYT) December 15, 2016

First four-star woman in Navy history. And she led the team that saved Captain Phillips.https://t.co/2FzRQRFPB6

— Bradd Jaffy (@BraddJaffy) December 15, 2016

Howard, who serves as the commander of U.S. Naval Forces in Europe, was the first African-American woman to command a U.S. Navy ship.

Earlier this week, a group of 20 veterans organizations sent a letter to Trump asking him to “strongly consider” keeping Veterans Affairs Secretary Bob McDonald.

{mosads}”While you continue your deliberations over who you will select to lead the Department of Veterans Affairs, we ask you to strongly consider the proven track record of the current VA Secretary, Bob McDonald, who is leading the largest transformation in the department’s history,” the groups said in the letter. 

The VA faced criticism in 2014 after news outlets uncovered the systemic doctoring of records to hide long wait times for veterans’ appointments.

The scandal led to the resignation of then-VA secretary Eric Shinseki.

McDonald was brought in to make changes in the wake of the scandal.

–This report was updated at 11:56 a.m.