{"id":121520,"date":"2021-02-08T20:25:16","date_gmt":"2021-02-09T01:25:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=121520"},"modified":"2021-02-08T20:42:59","modified_gmt":"2021-02-09T01:42:59","slug":"senate-confirms-nonveteran-to-head-bidens-veterans-affairs-dept","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/senate-confirms-nonveteran-to-head-bidens-veterans-affairs-dept\/","title":{"rendered":"Senate Confirms Nonveteran To Head Biden\u2019s Veterans Affairs Dept"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">18<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fsenate-confirms-nonveteran-to-head-bidens-veterans-affairs-dept%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=121520&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><div><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Denis-McDonough.jpg?w=1200&amp;h=800&amp;ixlib=react-9.0.3\" class=\"ff-og-image-inserted\" \/><\/div>\n<p>On Monday, the Senate approved Denis McDonough as President Joe Biden\u2019s Veterans Affairs secretary with an 87-7 vote.<\/p>\n<p>McDonough, 51, has never served in the U.S. Armed Forces, nor does he have healthcare experience. His expertise includes global affairs and navigating through the federal governmental bureaucracy. He was <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonpost.com\/national-security\/2020\/12\/10\/mcdonough-veterans-groups\/\">reportedly<\/a> chosen because he had worked closely with Biden in the Obama administration and knew how to get things done in D.C.<\/p>\n<p>The Washington Post quoted the Biden transition team as saying, \u201cMcDonough knows how to pull every lever of government to effectively serve our veterans and their families.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>All of the Democrats supported McDonough\u2019s confirmation. The no votes came from&nbsp;Republican Senators Tom Cotton (AK), Ted Cruz (TX), Joni Ernst (IA), Bill Hagerty (TN), Josh Hawley (MO), Roger Marshall (KN), and Rick Scott (FL).<\/p>\n<p>McDonough takes over the second-largest federal agency with nearly 380,000 employees and a budget of $263 billion. McDonough previously <a href=\"https:\/\/www.militarytimes.com\/opinion\/commentary\/2020\/12\/22\/my-pledge-to-our-nations-veterans\/\">said<\/a>, \u201cthe dedicated men and women who work tirelessly to serve the department have been impeded by mismanagement, staff shortfalls, leadership gaps, and IT systems failures.\u201d The VA provides benefits and support to veterans after their service and operates a healthcare network serving the 9 million enrolled.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.upi.com\/Top_News\/US\/2021\/01\/27\/VA-nominee-McDonough-Guiding-veterans-through-pandemic-will-be-top-priority\/7291611792526\/\">According<\/a> to McDonough, President Biden directed him \u201cto focus on getting our veterans through this pandemic.\u201d More than 8,700 veterans who were diagnosed with COVID-19 have died, the department said.<\/p>\n<p>Previously, McDonough was a senior adviser on foreign policy affairs for President Obama\u2019s transition team and Chief of Staff of the National Security Council. He later became Obama\u2019s Deputy National Security Advisor and was in the White House Situation Room on May 2, 2011, watching the Navy Seal raid that killed Osama bin Laden in real-time. In the famous photo, McDonough is seated next to then-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Here&#8217;s Joe Biden in the Situation Room in 2011.<\/p>\n<p>He advised Obama against the raid that killed Osama bin Laden.<\/p>\n<p>He&#8217;s not someone you want in the Situation Room again. <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/DemConvention?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#DemConvention<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/WBtjtZa8hU\">pic.twitter.com\/WBtjtZa8hU<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Abigail Marone (@abigailmarone) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/abigailmarone\/status\/1295914504660889600?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">August 19, 2020<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>In 2013, Obama appointed McDonough as his Chief of Staff.<\/p>\n<p>The Associated Press <a href=\"https:\/\/www.usatoday.com\/story\/news\/politics\/elections\/2020\/12\/10\/denis-mcdonough-biden-picks-former-obama-chief-staff-va\/3878370001\/\">reports<\/a>:<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p><em>McDonough was credited with helping Obama try to bridge divides on Capitol Hill, including around one of his most substantial second-term legislative achievements: the Veterans Choice Act. The legislation, for which President Donald Trump tries to take credit, gave former service members more options to seek care and the VA secretary more authority to fire underperforming staffers.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>The bill came about following exposes during the Obama administration into mismanagement at some VA hospitals and mounting complaints by advocacy groups. As chief of staff, McDonough was also deeply involved in an overhaul of VA leadership after the scandals, which led to the ouster of the department\u2019s secretary.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>During his confirmation hearing last month, McDonough <a href=\"https:\/\/www.upi.com\/Top_News\/US\/2021\/01\/27\/VA-nominee-McDonough-Guiding-veterans-through-pandemic-will-be-top-priority\/7291611792526\/\">said<\/a> he was \u201cready for this mission.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAs a former White House chief of staff, I bring a deep and extensive knowledge of government,\u201d he added. \u201cI understand how to untangle and solve large, complex challenges \u2013 both across and within large agencies.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>He becomes the second VA secretary who has not served in the military. David Shulkin, who former President Donald Trump appointed, was the first. Trump went on to fire him via Twitter.<\/p>\n<p>After McDonough was nominated in December, he <a href=\"https:\/\/www.militarytimes.com\/opinion\/commentary\/2020\/12\/22\/my-pledge-to-our-nations-veterans\/\">said<\/a> Biden \u201cmade it clear what he wants me to do,\u201d quoting Biden as saying: \u201cFight like hell for our veterans.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe\u2019re going to fight like hell to give our veterans and their families the healthcare, respect and dignity that they deserve,\u201d McDonough said. \u201cThat means helping our veterans build civilian lives of meaning and opportunity; making our VA even more welcoming to all veterans, including our women veterans, veterans of color, and LGBTQ+ veterans.\u201d<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">The President-elect\u2019s marching orders to me were clear: \u201cFight like hell for our veterans.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>I will honor that order. We\u2019re going to fight like hell to give our veterans and their families the healthcare, respect and dignity that they deserve. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/RI04OmENuu\">pic.twitter.com\/RI04OmENuu<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Denis McDonough (@DenisMcDonough) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/DenisMcDonough\/status\/1338539027448950786?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">December 14, 2020<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Still, some leaders of veterans groups reportedly expressed disappointment when Biden chose McDonough, emphasizing his non-veteran status.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIs this just a crony pick, or an afterthought? He has zero affiliation with veterans,\u201d one anonymous veterans advocate <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonpost.com\/national-security\/2020\/12\/10\/mcdonough-veterans-groups\/\">told<\/a> The Washington Post. \u201cNo one\u2019s saying you have to be a hard core vet to lead VA, but we have someone here who is not a vet who doesn\u2019t understand the culture of the only Cabinet-level agency with a built-in constituency that\u2019s actually engaged and vocal.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>McDonough is a professor in the Keough School of Global Affairs at the University of Notre Dame, which aims to prepare \u201cnew generations of students for skilled, effective and ethical global professional leadership.\u201d He was a featured speaker at the 2017 Notre Dame Forum, \u201cGoing Global: Exploring the Challenges and Opportunities of Globalization.\u201d <a href=\"https:\/\/news.nd.edu\/news\/notre-dame-faculty-member-denis-mcdonough-nominated-as-secretary-of-veteran-affairs\/\">According<\/a> to the school, McDonough joined the staff in August 2017 and will remain on the Notre Dame faculty on academic leave.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Congratulations to Keough School Professor <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/DenisMcDonough?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@DenisMcDonough<\/a> on his confirmation this evening as US Secretary of Veterans Affairs. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/l3zfaZQYwg\">https:\/\/t.co\/l3zfaZQYwg<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Keough School of Global Affairs (@KeoughGlobalND) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/KeoughGlobalND\/status\/1358929539662041091?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">February 9, 2021<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>As ABC News <a href=\"https:\/\/abcnews.go.com\/US\/watchdogs-concerned-biden-appointees-opaque-consulting-work\/story?id=75563844\">reported<\/a>, McDonough also recently worked for an advisory firm called Macro Advisory Partners, which according to a spokesperson with the company, \u201cinterprets global developments for its clients and analyses their impact on business strategies.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>More details from ABC News:<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p><em>The company, with a roster that includes at least ten Obama-era officials, does not disclose its clients. Its website makes oblique references to work it does for \u201can industry-leading multinational consumer goods company\u201d with a footprint in China, and \u201ca global financial services company\u201d doing business in Middle Eastern markets. \u2026<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>In his disclosure form, McDonough reported providing strategic advice to GlaxoSmithKline, PWC, MasterCard, Deutsche Telekom and Apple, but did not specify whether those were Macro Advisory Partners clients. A Biden transition official later clarified to ABC News that those companies were his clients at Macro Advisory Partners. McDonough reported earning at least $248,000 in salary from the firm over the last two years.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>ABC reported McDonough \u201chas agreed to step down from his position at the firm and recuse himself from any matters related to his former Macro Advisory Partners clients.\u201d CIA Director nominee William Burns and incoming National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan also recently worked for the company, which is based in London and New York.<\/p>\n<p>McDonough\u2019s wife, Kari, is co-founder and president of Vets\u2019 Community Connections, a nonprofit that, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.vetscommunityconnections.org\/missionteam.html\">according<\/a> to its website, \u201cassists veterans, military and their families in successfully integrating into their community by expanding their local networks and involving all parts of the community.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><em>The Daily Wire is one of America\u2019s fastest-growing conservative media companies and counter-cultural outlets for news, opinion, and entertainment. Get inside access to The Daily Wire by becoming a<\/em> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dailywire.com\/subscribe\"><em>member<\/em><\/a><em>.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>On Monday, the Senate approved Denis McDonough as President Joe Biden\u2019s Veterans Affairs secretary with an 87-7 vote. McDonough, 51, has never served in the U.S. Armed Forces, nor does &#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1892939,"comment_status":"close","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[3706,4938,5639,5890,3740,4873],"class_list":["post-121520","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-bidens","tag-confirms","tag-head","tag-nonveteran","tag-senate","tag-veterans"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/121520","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=121520"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/121520\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1892939"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=121520"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=121520"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=121520"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}