Trump’s transition team decides against having its defense secretary nominee appear before lawmakers
WASHINGTON — The House Armed Services Committee has canceled a hearing Thursday in which retired Marine Gen. James Mattis was to address the unconventional nature of his nomination for defense secretary because President-elect Donald Trump’s transition team decided against him appearing, two congressional staff members said.
Mattis was to testify in the afternoon on his need for Congress to pass legislation that would exempt him from a law that prevents recently retired military officers from serving in senior civilian jobs in the Pentagon.
The legislation states that retired military personnel must be out of uniform for seven years. The original law, adopted in 1947, had a 10-year moratorium and was created to ensure that civilians control the military.
Two committee staff members, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said Mattis was willing to appear before the House committee.
Separately, Mattis’ confirmation hearing also is scheduled for Thursday morning before the Senate Armed Services Committee.
“The members of our committee have not been afforded a chance to hear from Gen. Mattis, including new members who have just joined Congress and need information to make up their minds,” said Rep. Adam Smith, D-Wash., the ranking member on the committee.
Congress has granted only one exception to the law.
Army Gen. George Marshall, an active-duty fivestar general, was defense secretary for about a year beginning in 1950 after he was selected by President Harry Truman as the military struggled in the early days of the Korean War.
Legislation passed at the time allowed Marshall to take the job, but said it was “the sense” of lawmakers that “no additional appointments of military men to that office shall be approved.”
The law means that in addition to requiring confirmation by the Senate, both chambers of Congress must pass a waiver for Mattis.
Meanwhile, a Senate panel postponed billionaire investor Wilbur Ross’ confirmation hearing Thursday to give the Commerce Department nominee more time to finalize an ethics agreement. The hearing was postponed to Jan. 18.