A16 The Nation The Boston Globe THURSDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2019
By Hope Yen
ASSOCIATED PRESS
WASHINGTON — Eager to
make changes to the Depart-
ment of Veterans Affairs, Presi-
dent Trump toyed early on
with issuing an executive order
to close parts of the VA health
system without consulting Con-
gress, according to an upcom-
ing book by his former VA sec-
retary.
In the book, obtained by The
Associated Press, David Shulkin
describes a March 6, 2017, con-
versation in the Oval Office
where Trump explored ways his
administration could act quick-
ly to shutter government-run
VA medical centers that he
viewed as poorly performing.
Trump was fresh off his
2016 campaign in which priva-
tizing VA had become a politi-
cal hot button after he pledged
to steer more veterans to pri-
vate-sector doctors outside the
VA. He had said the VA was the
‘‘the most corrupt’’ and ‘‘proba-
bly the most incompetently
run’’ Cabinet department. Dem-
ocrats and major veterans’
groups oppose ‘‘privatization’’
and say VA facilities are best-
suited to treat battlefield inju-
ries such as post-traumatic
stress disorder.
At the meeting, Trump
asked whether ‘‘we should be-
gin to close the VAs,’’ according
to the book. Legislation prohib-
ited that, so Shulkin responded
that the VA was working with
Congress to set up a system-
wide review to address under-
performing facilities, whether
by fixing or closing.
‘‘But this takes time,’’
Shulkin said.
Trump exclaimed, ‘‘So let’s
just do an executive order!’’
‘‘This is a legislative issue,’’
Shulkin said.
Trump then offered, ‘‘Can’t
we just declare a national emer-
gency?’’
At that point, according to
the book, Trump’s son-in-law
and White House adviser, Jared
Kushner, chimed in, ‘‘Yes. We’re
still in a war, so we could.’’
Shulkin told the AP that ulti-
mately he dissuaded Trump
from pursuing that route, per-
suading him to sign executive
orders for changes with wider
support, such as expanded tele-
health options for veterans.
The 2017 Oval Office con-
versation is illustrative of
Trump’s early intentions to-
ward the VA and remains sig-
nificant as he pushes for reelec-
tion, citing in part his accom-
plishments in expanding choice
and boosting mental health
care for veterans. Veterans as a
group have largely backed
Trump throughout his presi-
dency, despite lingering ques-
tions about his intentions about
preserving the VA.
Shulkin, a former Obama
administration official, was
fired by Trump in March 2018
amid an ethics scandal over a
trip to Europe that Shulkin took
with his wife that mixed busi-
ness and pleasure, as well as
mounting rebellion by political
appointees in his agency. His
book, ‘‘It Shouldn’t Be This
Hard to Serve Your Country,’’
will be released next Tuesday.
He said the expansion of the
Veterans Choice program under
his successor, VA Secretary
Robert Wilkie, has put the
agency at risk ‘‘as never before.’’
Shulkin cited political forces in-
side and outside the adminis-
tration that are more interested
in putting ‘‘companies with
profits’’ over the care of veter-
ans, and suggested that only
new leadership — at the depart-
ment, probably at the White
House, too — could save the VA.
Yet, as VA secretary, Shulkin
pushed a plan to give veterans
wider access to doctors outside
the VA medical system. Veter-
ans should get ‘‘more choice in
the say of their care,’’ he told the
House Veterans’ Affairs Com-mittee in October 2017. ‘‘No-
body should feel trapped in the
VA system.’’
Shulkin says Trump’s plans
regarding ‘‘privatization’’ were
still an open question when he
was fired.
A few weeks before, Shulkin
said he was explaining to
Trump in an Oval Office meet-
ing why an aggressive expan-
sion of private care for veterans
could be very costly for the gov-
ernment, at more than $50 bil-
lion. Trump decided to call Pete
Hegseth, a Fox News commen-
tator who was once considered
for the VA secretary job, to ask
his opinion. ‘‘We can find the
money from within the VA,’’
Hegseth told Trump, according
to the book, suggesting signifi-
cant cuts to VA care.
‘‘Much of my narrative deals
with the factions pushing me to
simply close the VA or at least
large parts of it that weren’t
working well,’’ Shulkin wrote.
‘‘But I didn’t see how shutting
down a system specifically de-
signed to care for veterans
could be in the veterans’ best
interests.’’
The legislation that Trump
ultimately signed last year gives
veterans more freedom to see
doctors outside the VA in an ef-
fort to cut wait times, paving
the way for new rules that
Shulkin says will ‘‘lead to the
rapid dismantling of the cur-
rent VA system.’’
Recent studies have actually
found that veterans got into a
VA facility for an appointment
faster on average and received
better care than if they went to
a private facility, raising ques-
tions about the value of steering
veterans to the private sector.By William K. Rashbaum
and Michael Gold
NEW YORK TIMES
David Correia, who was
charged last week in a cam-
paign finance scheme along
with two longtime associates
of President Trump’s personal
lawyer, Rudy Giuliani, was ar-
rested Wednesday, officials
said.
Correia, 44, surrendered to
FBI agents at 10:30 a.m. at
Kennedy International Air-
port, after he returned from a
foreign country, officials said.
He had been charged, in a
federal indictment unsealed
last week, with participating
in a conspiracy to conceal the
source of hundreds of thou-
sands of dollars in political
contributions that came from
overseas donors.
Two of the other defen-
dants in the case, Igor Fruman
and Lev Parnas, have aided
Trump’s efforts to gather dam-
aging information in Ukraine
about his political opponents.
They were also arrested last
week at an airport, with one-
way tickets to Frankfurt.
The indictment, filed in the
Southern District of New York,
revealed new information
about the attempt to pressure
Ukraine, which is the focus of
the impeachment inquiry that
House Democrats opened last
month.
Trump has continued to de-
fend the effort and has tried to
discredit the impeachment in-
quiry. But the indictment and
criminal case signaled grow-
ing legal exposure for those
connected to the foreign policy
push that Giuliani conducted
in Trump’s interest.
The indictment directly
connected Parnas and Fru-
man, two of Giuliani’s associ-
ates, to an attempt to recall the
US ambassador to Ukraine,
Marie Yovanovitch, who be-
came a focus of criticism from
many of Trump’s allies.
Federal prosecutors are al-
so investigating whether Giu-
liani broke lobbying laws in
his dealings with Ukraine, ac-
cording to people familiar
with the inquiry. Giuliani has
denied wrongdoing but has ac-
knowledged that he and asso-
ciates worked with Ukrainian
officials to gather potentially
damaging information about
Yovanovitch and other Trump
targets.
Parnas and Fruman donat-
ed money and pledged to raise
additional funds in 2018 —
some violating legal limits —
for a congressman who was
then enlisted in the campaign
to oust Yovanovitch, court doc-
uments showed.
Campaign finance filings
identify the congressman as
Pete Sessions, a former repre-
sentative and Texas Republi-
can.
In 2018, Sessions wrote a
letter to Secretary of State
Mike Pompeo saying that Yo-
vanovitch should be fired for
privately expressing disdain
for Trump’s administration.
Correia was not directly
linked to the part of the case
involving Sessions, but federal
prosecutors connected him to
larger efforts by Parnas and
Fruman to skirt bans on for-
eign donations to elections.
Correia had been overseas
when the charges were un-
sealed.Book:Trumpmulledorder
toclosepartsofVAsystem
Ex-secretary
saysmovewould
havehitveterans
MICHAEL REYNOLDS/POOL/EPA/SHUTTERSTOCK
Then-secretary of veterans affairs David Shulkin and
President Trump during a Cabinet meeting in March 2018.FBIarrestsanother
figureinGiulianicase
WASHINGTON POST
WASHINGTON — US Post-
master General Megan Bren-
nan plans to retire in January,
officials said Wednesday, fol-
lowing months of complaints
from President Trump that the
Postal Service was losing too
much money and should be
charging retail giant Amazon
more for package delivery.
Trump had told aides re-
peatedly earlier this year that
he would like to remove Bren-
nan from her post, according to
people with knowledge of the
discussions.
But officials on Wednesday
characterized Brennan’s depar-
ture as a normal retirement
and said she would assist in the
search for a replacement.
Brennan, a former letter
carrier who is the first woman
to head the postal agency, had
resisted Trump’s push to dou-
ble the rates charged to Ama-
zon and other firms to ship
packages — a move that could
cost the companies and post of-
fice customers billions of dol-
lars.
Trump has repeatedly
rained invective on Amazon’s
founder, Jeff Bezos, and on his
separate ownership of The
Washington Post, which Trump
regularly accuses of reporting
‘‘fake news.’’
Brennan had explained to
the president in multiple con-
versations that he cannot undo
Amazon’s contracts without a
regulatory commission review,
and had also argued that the re-
lationship benefits both Ama-
zon and the Postal Service.Trumptarget
toretirefrom
PostalService
inearly
Funeral Services
Affordable Cremation
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617 782 1000
Lehman Reen & McNamara
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Serving Greater BostonBRUNO, Joan E. (Taylor)
Age 87, of Mansfield, formerly of East
Walpole, October 14, 2019. Wife of the
late Anthony J. “Tony” Bruno, and the
late David C. Carr. Mother of Vickie A.
Carr of Mattapoisett, Cynthia M. Fiedler
of Mansfield, Theresa L. Tomasello of
Foxboro, Robert J. Bruno of Mansfield,
and Richard J. Bruno of East Walpole.
Her Funeral Mass will be celebrated on
Saturday, October 19th, at 11:00 A.M.,
in Saint Mary’s Church, 330 Pratt St.
(Route 106), Mansfield. Burial will be
held private. Visiting hours are omitted
and in lieu of flowers, please consider
making a donation in Joan’s memory
to the History Department, Herter
Hall, University of Massachusetts, 161
Presidents Drive, Amherst, MA 01003-- Make checks payable to the His-
tory Department and please note the
Nicholas Carr Bergstein Scholarship in
the memo line. For complete obituary,
please visit http://www.shermanjackson.com
Age 79, of Ft. Lauderdale, FL, passed
away on October 12 after a brief illness.
Originally from Plattekill, NY, Albina
received her nursing degree from
Flower-Fifth Avenue School of Nursing
in New York City and a BS degree from
Boston University. She began her career
at the Head Start Program in Boston
and worked the last 24 years at Vitas as
a Team Manager. Albina had a winning
smile, a caring heart, a contagious
laugh and the compassion for others
that was truly unmatched. She is
survived by her sister, Paula Blair and
her husband Thomas of New York City,
and too many loving friends and family
to mention. Albina’s husband, Burton,
predeceased her in 1986. Visitation will
be Thursday, October 17, from 5 - 8
pm at Kraeer-Fairchild Funeral Home,
4601 N. Federal Hwy., FT. LAUDER-
DALE. Funeral Services will be at 10
am on Friday, October 18, at St. John
the Baptist Catholic Church, 4598
Bayview Drive, Ft. Lauderdale. In lieu
of flowers, donations may be made to
the Alzheimer’s Association by calling
800-272-3900.BROWN, Albina
Oct. 13th, lifelong resident
of Malden. Beloved hus-
band of Carol M. (Russo)
Abramo of Malden. Devoted father
of Frank P. Abramo of Andover and
Michael A. Abramo of Milford. Proud
grandfather of Michael, Alexander,
and Melina. Cherished father-in-law
of Maria Abramo. Also survived by his
loving dog, Buddy. Funeral from the
Weir-MacCuish Golden Rule Funeral
Home, 144 Salem St., MALDEN on
Sat., Oct. 19th, at 9AM, followed by a
Mass of Christian Burial in St. Joseph’s
Church, Malden, at 10AM. Interment to
follow in Woodlawn Cemetery, Everett.
Visitation will be held at the Funeral
Home on Fri., Oct. 18th, from 4 – 8PM.
Proud owner of Floral Arrangements
by Mr. Frank, Malden. Late US Army
Veteran. For obituary and directions,
http://www.weirfunerahome.comABRAMO, Frank
AMESBURY
HOLMES,WilliamC.
ANDOVER
ABRAMO,Frank
ARLINGTON
KHACADOURIAN,Antoine
WALSH,JamesW.
BEDFORD
McGRATH,RobertD.
BELLINGHAM
FOLEY,WilliamJ.
McDONALD,EdwinaJ.(Trail)
BELMONT
DROLETTE,IreneB.(Stanton)
BEVERLY
SINGER,PaulL.
BILLERICA
LANGE,DavidG.
BOSTON
COLBERT,Thomas
FEWTRELL,EdwardS.
GALLAGHER,JamesDaniel
McDONALD,EdwinaJ.(Trail)
McGRATH,RobertD.
BOSTON’SNORTHEND
COGLIANI,Angelina(Solomita)
BOURNE
DROLETTE,IreneB.(Stanton)
BRIGHTON
HOLMES,WilliamC.
MAZZOLA,Luciano
BROOKLINE
HAIG,SusanLee
BURLINGTON
FEWTRELL,EdwardS.
FIETZE,RonaldJ.
CAMBRIDGE
LANGE,DavidG.
WALSH,JamesW.
CAPECOD
VINCOLA,NancyL.(Roberts)
CHARLESTOWN
SULLIVAN,CarolA.(Ployer)
CHELMSFORD
McGRATH,RobertD.
DANVERS
WHITE,Br.Philip,CFX
DEDHAM
GALLAGHER,JamesDaniel
HYLEN,Ron
DORCHESTER
CRUZ,StellaOliveira(Fonseca)
EVERETT
RIZZO,SusanK.(Ciulla)
FITCHBURG
PRAY,CatherineA.
FRANKLIN
ROSE,HelenW.(Duffy)
GARDNER
PRAY,CatherineA.
GLOUCESTER
CRANITCH,RobertLeo
HALIFAX
DROLETTE,IreneB.(Stanton)
HAMILTON
VINCOLA,NancyL.(Roberts)
HANOVER
MARATHAS,Stella
HANSON
DROLETTE,IreneB.(Stanton)
HARWICH
FOLEY,WilliamJ.
HOLBROOK
KELLY,Theresa
HYANNIS
TOBIN,CorinneF.(Shea)
JAMAICAPLAIN
COLBERT,Thomas
LEXINGTON
FIETZE,RonaldJ.
PLASSE,PaulA.
LYNN
FEWTRELL,EdwardS.
MALDEN
ABRAMO,Frank
CRANITCH,RobertLeo
WHITE,Br.Philip,CFX
MANSFIELD
BRUNO,JoanE.(Taylor)
MATTAPOISETT
BRUNO,JoanE.(Taylor)
MAYNARD
MARATHAS,Stella
MEDFIELD
PRAY,CatherineA.
MEDFORD
CRANITCH,RobertLeo
SULLIVAN,CarolA.(Ployer)
MELROSE
HOLMES,WilliamC.
MYERS,HarryJ.
MILFORD
ABRAMO,Frank
MILTON
KELLY,Theresa
MYERS,HarryJ.
TOBIN,CorinneF.(Shea)
NATICK
MARATHAS,Stella
WALSH,JamesW.
NEEDHAM
DEWEY,JohnFrancisSr.
HOPFE,JustinJames
HYLEN,Ron
VINCOLA,NancyL.(Roberts)
NEWBEDFORD
CRUZ,StellaOliveira(Fonseca)NEWTON
KHACADOURIAN,Antoine
MAZZOLA,Luciano
WALSH,JamesW.
NORTHANDOVER
SMITH,GeorgeLawton
PEABODY
SINGER,PaulL.
PLAINVILLE
McDONALD,EdwinaJ.(Trail)
PLYMOUTH
MARATHAS,Stella
QUINCY
KENNEDY,LouiseE.(Mezzetti)
WHITE,Br.Philip,CFX
RANDOLPH
MARATHAS,Stella
READING
CRANITCH,RobertLeo
ROSLINDALE
GALLAGHER,JamesDaniel
SAUGUS
RIZZO,SusanK.(Ciulla)
SCITUATE
CANNON,LilyJean(Hanson)
SOMERVILLE
SMITH,GeorgeLawton
SOUTHBOSTON
RIZZO,SusanK.(Ciulla)
WAKEFIELD
CRANITCH,RobertLeo
WALPOLE
BRUNO,JoanE.(Taylor)
FOLEY,WilliamJ.
WALTHAM
FIETZE,RonaldJ.
MAZZOLA,Luciano
WAREHAM
CRUZ,StellaOliveira(Fonseca)
WATERTOWN
KHACADOURIAN,Antoine
WAYLAND
TOBIN,CorinneF.(Shea)
WELLESLEY
DEWEY,JohnFrancisSr.
HYLEN,Ron
VINCOLA,NancyL.(Roberts)
WENHAM
VINCOLA,NancyL.(Roberts)
WESTROXBURY
COLBERT,Thomas
FOLEY,WilliamJ.
GALLAGHER,JamesDaniel
McDONALD,EdwinaJ.(Trail)
WEYMOUTH
KELLY,Theresa
KENNEDY,LouiseE.(Mezzetti)
WILMINGTON
FEWTRELL,EdwardS.
SULLIVAN,CarolA.(Ployer)
WINCHESTER
MYERS,HarryJ.
WINTHROP
WHELAN,DavidJ.
WOBURN
PLASSE,PaulA.
WORCESTER
HOPFE,JustinJames
TOBIN,CorinneF.(Shea)OUTOFSTATE
CONNECTICUT
SMITH,GeorgeLawton
FLORIDA
BROWN,Albina
FOLEY,WilliamJ.
MAINE
HOLMES,WilliamC.
NEWHAMPSHIRE
FEWTRELL,EdwardS.
LANGE,DavidG.
TOBIN,CorinneF.(Shea)
TENNESSEE
SMITH,GeorgeLawtonOUTOFCOUNTRY
IRELAND
COLBERT,Thomas
KELLY,TheresaBY CITY AND TOWN
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