Senate confirms Biden pick Denis McDonough as VA secretary
WASHINGTON - The Senate has overwhelmingly voted to confirm President Joe Biden’s pick to oversee the Department of Veterans Affairs.
The Senate confirmed Denis McDonough as VA secretary by a vote of 87-7 on Monday. McDonough was President Barack Obama’s chief of staff.
McDonough will oversee a sprawling agency that has presented organizational challenges for both parties over the years. But he never served in the armed forces, a fact noted by leading veterans advocacy groups.
FILE - President-elect Joe Biden (R) and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris (L) look on as former Obama White House Chief of Staff Denis McDonough delivers remarks after being introduced as U.S. President-elect Joe Biden’s nominee to head the Departm (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
RELATED: Biden taps Susan Rice as domestic policy adviser, Denis McDonough for VA
McDonough touted his experience working in the Obama administration, telling lawmakers he understood how to untangle and solve complex challenges across the government. He said his experience as chief of staff also enabled him to view the sacrifices that veterans make and that he feels he owes a profound debt of gratitude to those who served in the military.
McDonough replaces Robert Wilkie, who served as VA secretary under President Donald Trump.