World News: OnPolitics Today: Trump dumps bump stocks

with Jessica Estepa

OnPolitics Today: Trump dumps bump stocks

President Trump delivers remarks during a Public Safety

It's Tuesday, OP-ers. If you were off yesterday, we hope you enjoyed your Presidents' Day weekend. If you weren't, we hope you didn't miss us too much.

Lots happening today, so read the latest, subscribe here and let's get to it.

Trump makes a move

Days after a Florida school shooting killed 17 people, President Trump effectively banned the use of bump stocks on Tuesday, when he signed an executive memorandum that calls on the attorney general to regulate the use of the devices.

Bump stocks allow rifles to mimic automatic weapons, making it easier to fire rounds more quickly. The weapons were among those used in last year's Las Vegas shooting that killed 58 people.

"We must do more to protect our children," Trump said during a Medal of Valor event at the White House.

Still, some may wonder if this will be enough. Democrats have argued that legislation is needed to ban bump stocks, because of a 2010 federal agency conclusion that devices couldn't be regulated under gun laws.

Also on Tuesday: A new poll found that most Americans think neither Trump nor Congress are doing enough to stop mass shootings.

Shulkin thinks he's good to go

Is Veterans Affairs Secretary David Shulkin about to lose his job?

He doesn't think so.

The VA secretary told USA TODAY he received assurances that his job isn't in jeopardy. Reminder: Shulkin was the subject of a scathing inspector general's report last week that he misused taxpayer dollars while visiting Europe with his wife.

"I'm the secretary, I'm in charge of carrying out the president's agenda, and that's exactly what we're going to do," he said. "I came here always with the intention of fighting for veterans and that's what I'm going to continue to do, which is to focus this agency on improving the VA for veterans."

That's in line with what the White House said on Tuesday, when Press Secretary Sarah Sanders said there was "no reason to believe" Trump had lost faith in Shulkin.

But there is something curious happening over at the VA: the White House installed a new chief of staff at the VA, something Shulkin would normally do. And his communications staff is answering to the White House, too.

It's a wee bit curious.

Elsewhere in politics

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•	Facebook says Kremlin-linked ads ready for public view, but House hasn't released them
•	Trump to make final call on the Pentagon's policy on transgender troops
•	Trump lashes out at accusers, denying alleged Trump Tower sexual harassment incident
•	Alleged $150K payoff to Trump accuser, ex-Playboy model Karen McDougal: Was it illegal?