“Denis McDonough, President Joe Biden’s pick for secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs, listed one of his top priorities Wednesday as ‘getting our veterans through this pandemic.'”
“The Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee was set to question McDonough on Wednesday afternoon during a confirmation hearing. After the hearing, McDonough’s nomination will be sent to the Senate floor for a vote.”
“In his written statement to senators, McDonough, 51, listed the issues Biden told him to focus on, and getting veterans through the coronavirus pandemic was the first. As of Wednesday, coronavirus death rates at the VA were the highest they have ever been. More than 8,700 veterans and 120 VA workers have died of the virus – nearly 2,000 of those deaths occurring in the previous three weeks.”
“If confirmed, McDonough would be responsible for a massive effort to administer coronavirus vaccines to millions of veterans and health care workers across the country. One VA official described it as a ‘herculean’ task that would take innovative ideas to accomplish. Last week, the agency initiated a pilot program in which vaccine doses are flown into rural, hard-to-reach areas…”
“McDonough served as principal deputy national security adviser under former President Barack Obama and later took the job as Obama’s chief of staff. McDonough began working with Obama in 2007 as the then-senator’s senior foreign policy adviser. Before working for Obama, McDonough held staff positions in the House and Senate…” Read the full article here.
Source: Top priority for VA secretary nominee is getting veterans through pandemic – By Nikki Wentling, January 27, 2021. Stars and Stripes.
