SASC Approves Mattis to Become Secretary of Defense

The Senate Armed Services Committee approved Gen. James Mattis as the next Secretary of Defense on Wednesday with a 26-1 vote.  

The waiver required for Retired Marine Corps Gen. James Mattis to become the next Secretary of Defense was passed through the House of Representatives earlier this month.

Mattis answered questions during his hearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee, hoping to influence legislators to grant him the waiver. Current laws deny military officers from taking cabinet posts until they have been retired for at least seven years.