The only member left from Obama's administration blames 'toxic' environment in Washington for dismissal

Former US Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary David Shulkin has blamed his sudden ouster from the Trump administration on "political forces" that he says are bent on privatising the agency and putting "companies with profits" over veterans' care.

Mr Shulkin, the lone Obama administration holdover serving in President Donald Trump's Cabinet, blasted a "toxic" and "subversive" environment in Washington that made it impossible for him to lead.