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Secretaries of Veterans' Affairs

Seal of Department of Veterans' AffairsThe Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) was established on March 15, 1989, succeeding the Veterans Administration. It is responsible for providing federal benefits to veterans and their dependents. Headed by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, VA is the second largest of the 15 Cabinet departments and operates nationwide programs for health care, financial assistance and burial benefits.

Term of Service
Secretary Home State Administration
1989 - 1993
Edward J. Derwinski Illinois G.H.W. Bush
1993 - 1998
Jesse Brown Illinois Bill Clinton
1998 - 2001
Togo D. West Jr. Washington, D.C. Clinton
2001 - 2005
Anthony J. Principi California G.W. Bush
2005 - 2007
Jim Nicholson Colorado G.W. Bush
2009
James Peake Washington, D.C. G.W. Bush
2009 - 2014
Eric Shinseki Hawaii Obama
2014 - 2017
Bob McDonald Ohio Obama
2017 - 2018
David Shulkin Pennsylvania Trump
2018 - 2021
Robert Wilkie North Carolina Trump
2021 - present
Denis McDonough Minnesota Biden
See cabinet officers sorted by administration.