Robert Wilkie Confirmed as Veterans Affairs Secretary

Robert Wilkie, who served as the Defense Department’s under secretary for personnel and readiness, will now lead the Department of Veterans Affairs after the Senate confirmed him in a 86-9 vote Monday evening. Wilkie was nominated in May after former secretary David Shulkin clashed with the president and was investigated for ethics issues and misuse of his security detail. Trump originally nominated current White House doctor Ronny Jackson, but a series of concerns about his personal conduct and professional demeanor caused him to withdraw his nomination.