A new White House nominee to head the Veterans Administration means uncertainty for the future of the Hot Springs facility.
That decision could be left up to Navy Rear Admiral Ronny Jackson, who would be the third VA secretary to consider what happens.
For South Dakota’s congressional delegation, that means re-educating officials on why that facility is important for the health system and the southern hills.
It’s safe to say local veterans and the state’s congressional delegation weren’t impressed with former-VA secretary David Shulkin.
For now, the facility is still operating. In recent budget debates, Congresswoman Kristi Noem added language to omnibus bill that mandates funds cannot be used to close the VA facility in Hot Springs.
The VA health systems is considering transferring services to Rapid City.
Noem says it’s good to offer options for veterans, but not to the detriment of Hot Springs. She says the facility can still be used for PTSD treatment, counseling services and primary care.
She says those were the messages she passed along for former-Secretary Shulkin.
“He hasn’t been real responsive, so I’m not going to grieve over his not being around anymore,” Noem says. “But it does take us a while to get a new secretary educated on the importance of Hot Springs. I know the president has made a choice. I understand he has good military service that is commendable. I’m just going to have to get him up to speed on why those services in Hot Springs are important.”
President Trump’s replacement, White House Physician Ronny Jackson, is subject to Senate approval.
Senator John Thune says he’ll take that time to get to know Jackson.
“I’d hate to react just yet, but as he comes into this job he has a pretty good, sounds like, diverse and broad background in medicine but perhaps not a big background in running big organizations," Thune says. "The veterans administration is a big organization. I’m going to be anxious to hear about his thoughts and his views to make the VA operate more smoothly and in a way that really puts our veterans first and foremost, which is what the VA is there to do.”
Black Hills VA officials say they’re still in the design phase for the clinic in Rapid City.