'Is he in a time out?' Obama reportedly placed VA secretary Shinseki 'on probation'

Doug P. | 8:14 PM on May 28, 2014

The number of people calling for Veterans Administration Secretary Eric Shinseki to either resign or be fired is increasing every day.

CNN’s Steve Brusk passed along a report that the president placed Shinseki on “probation” at the time of Obama’s press conference about the VA scandal last week:

WH official tells @jimacostacnn Sec. Shinseki has been "on probation" since president's comments last week, and he remains on "thin ice"

— Steve Brusk (@stevebruskNews) May 28, 2014

On “thin ice” is the most tenuous disciplinary position anybody in this administration has ever been in, isn’t it?

The official told Jim the interim IG report adds to the evidence that there are systemic problems at the Department of Veterans Affairs

— Steve Brusk (@stevebruskNews) May 28, 2014

Jim reports the WH official also drew a distinction between the president's loyalty to HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius and Shinseki (more)

— Steve Brusk (@stevebruskNews) May 28, 2014

The official say the WH was confident the Affordable Care Act would work after the technical bugs were fixed (more)

— Steve Brusk (@stevebruskNews) May 28, 2014

He said WH officials are not as confident in what they'll find in overall review of the VA system. But they are awaiting the findings.

— Steve Brusk (@stevebruskNews) May 28, 2014

“Probation” in this administration sounds like something in between being sent to your room without your supper and being forced to resign when you were going to retire anyway.

Oh boy…Obama has the VA secretary Shinseki on "probation" after briefing of fraudulent lists to get bonuses. He's a real tough boss…LOL!

— Seek Truth (@joemonroe5) May 28, 2014