Veterans Affairs Secretary Doug Collins heaped praise upon San Diego's VA medical center and downplayed the concerns of some about a slew of Trump administration changes at the agency Tuesday.

Collins was in San Diego to tour the medical center and recognize some long-serving staff.

During a short speech he called the one of the "top five" in the entire VA.

"We have 170 VAMCs across the country," Collins said. "This is one in which we can point to and say, 'this is one that is doing it right — this is one that actually is getting a lot done.'"

The secretary's tenure at the agency has been controversial. Earlier this year, he announced the VA would cut 80,000 jobs, sparking protests among veterans and advocates.

In July, the agency canceled its "reduction in force" plan. Instead, it an

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