In an 86-9 vote, the US Senate has confirmed Robert Wilkie to be Secretary of Veterans Affairs. Wilkie, who was President Donald Trump’s third pick for the job in 18 months, is expected to be sworn in quickly to take over the department which serves some 9 million veterans. The office has remained vacant for months after Trump fired David Shulkin. The initial replacement choice, Ronny Jackson, withdrew from consideration amid allegations of workplace misconduct.