New VA Secretary David Shulkin Tweets Out Message to Vets

The Department of Veterans Affairs' new secretary, Dr. David Shulkin, inaugurated his official Twitter account Wednesday with a three-part tweet honoring the vets he serves. 

It is my highest professional honor to serve as your Secretary of Veteran Affairs. (1/3) pic.twitter.com/cTNtBobvrt

— Dr. David J. Shulkin (@SecShulkin) February 15, 2017

Shulkin, sworn in by Vice President Mike Pence on Tuesday, had over 700 followers by Wednesday afternoon.

The responses to his first official tweets were answered with a mix of congratulations, advice – and one request for his phone number. 

@SecShulkin Are you going stop red flagging Vets for questioning your quacks medical treatment?

— John Jones (@oniotaku101) February 15, 2017

 

@SecShulkin I am counting on you to help us veterans.

— Jerry Allen (@jca421) February 15, 2017

 
Military Times reports many major agency heads have personal or staff-run Twitter accounts on top of the formal channels used for department business.

But, according to the military news outlet, the past two VA secretaries opted not to have a personal account, choosing instead to leave social media outreach to the main @DeptVetAffairs feed.

VA spokeswoman Lydia Blaha said the new account is designed "to communicate the continuing progress we are making for veterans. Twitter is another means which the public and all veterans have access to the secretary."

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