Washington (CNN) A Senate committee voted on Tuesday to advance President Donald Trump's nominee to lead the Department of Veterans Affairs, after a largely noncontroversial confirmation hearing last month.

Trump nominated Robert Wilkie, who is a Pentagon undersecretary, to lead the department after ousting former VA Secretary David Shulkin. The President initially tried to replace Shulkin with White House physician Ronny Jackson, but Jackson withdrew his nomination after allegations of workplace misconduct from his colleagues in the White House Medical Unit. Trump then turned to Wilkie, who had been leading the VA in an acting capacity.

Wilkie's nomination was advanced by the committee on a voice vote. Independent Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont, who was not in the room, requested to be recorded as a no vote.

Wilkie is expected to be confirmed by the full Senate. He was confirmed as an undersecretary unanimously last November.

During his confirmation hearing in June, Wilkie told lawmakers he planned to "shake up complacency" within the agency and that there are "no more excuses."

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