Politics
Politics

Privatizing the VA will hurt vets, the left says

U.S. Secretary of Veterans Affairs David Shulkin, testifying before Congress earlier this month. Alex Wong/Getty Images

Credit: Alex Wong

Credit: Alex Wong

U.S. Secretary of Veterans Affairs David Shulkin, testifying before Congress earlier this month. Alex Wong/Getty Images
By Bria Felicien
March 29, 2018

President Donald Trump fired David Shulkin as secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs and nominated a replacement - Admiral Ronny L. Jackson, Trump's personal physician. The left says privatizing the VA will hurt veterans.

A roundup of columns, editorials and articles looks as the issue.

1. Opinion: VA needs work, not politics or privatizing

From The Commercial Appeal: "I hope we can improve the VA health care system without more political involvement, and without privatizing the system."

2. David J. Shulkin: Privatizing the V.A. will hurt veterans

From The New York Times: "I am convinced that privatization is a political issue aimed at rewarding select people and companies with profits, even if it undermines care for veterans."

3. Privatizing all VA care would be a big mistake

From The Washington Post: "To go to a fully "privatized" system would be hugely expensive — as everyone acknowledges."

ExploreThe right says the Census must ask about citizenship

About the Author

Bria Felicien is a published author and staff writer at the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. She produces podcasts for the AJC.

Follow Bria Felicien on twitter
More Stories

Keep Reading

Constituent Services Director Vesna Kurspahic helps a student with his service academy application at U.S. Rep. Rich McCormick’s office in Cumming, Ga., on Wednesday, Oct. 15, 2025. Kurspahic is constituent services director for Congressman Rich McCormick. During the government shutdown, she is handling a caseload of roughly 250 requests without receiving any salary. (Abbey Cutrer/AJC)

Credit: abbey.cutrer@ajc.com

They are Congress’ front-line workers. Now they are doing it for no pay.

Every member of Georgia's delegation team has a team of caseworkers now working without pay as they continue to field constituents' requests for help.

Republicans running for Georgia secretary of state are still split on 2020

Candidates' views on the 2020 election are shaping the race for state’s top election official.

New Georgia Project shuts down, ending a decade of political influence in state

Founded in 2013, the organization was credited with registering tens of thousands of left-leaning voters who helped turn Georgia into a political battleground.

The Latest

Constituent Services Director Vesna Kurspahic helps a student with his service academy application at U.S. Rep. Rich McCormick’s office in Cumming, Ga., on Wednesday, Oct. 15, 2025. Kurspahic is constituent services director for Congressman Rich McCormick. During the government shutdown, she is handling a caseload of roughly 250 requests without receiving any salary. (Abbey Cutrer/AJC)

Credit: abbey.cutrer@ajc.com

They are Congress’ front-line workers. Now they are doing it for no pay.

Republicans running for Georgia secretary of state are still split on 2020

Georgia has $14.6 billion in reserves. What to do with it?

Featured

Members of the conversion crew take a break as the main scoreboard is lowered to the floor to be worked on as the arena gets ready for the next concert at State Farm Arena, Thursday, October 2, 2025, in Atlanta. The crew was working on creating a stage for the Friday, Oct. 3 Maxwell concert. (Jason Getz/AJC)

Credit: Jason Getz / Jason.Getz@ajc.com

Inside the team that transforms State Farm Arena overnight, from games to concerts

State Farm Arena's conversion team assembles and reassembles the basketball court, constructs and deconstructs stages, arranges and rearranges floor seating for each event.

Some ‘No Kings’ protests may snarl traffic Saturday. Here’s how to get around.

"No Kings" protests are scheduled within metro Atlanta Saturday, and some have the potential to tie up traffic. Here's how to get around some of the larger ones.

Georgia students still outpacing national average on ACT. See results by school.

Find out how your child's school and district performed on the college entrance exam.