Trump Defense pick cruises toward likely confirmation
WASHINGTON — Retired Gen. James Mattis on Thursday cruised toward likely confirmation as Donald Trump’s defense secretary, easily prevailing in a Senate vote granting him an exemption to run the Pentagon as a recently retired officer. At his confirmation hearing, he called Russia the nation’s No. 1 security threat, accusing its leader of trying to “break” NATO.
The Senate voted 81-17 to approve legislation overriding a prohibition against former U.S. service members who have been out of uniform less than seven years holding the Defense Department’s top job. The restriction is meant to preserve civilian control of the military. The House Armed Services Committee backed the waiver in a 34-28 vote; the full House will take up the matter today.
Mat t i s , 6 6, s p e n t f o u r decades in uniform, retiring in 2013 with a reputation as an effective combat leader and an astute strategist. Separate from the override legislation, the Senate will vote later on Mattis’ nomination and will almost certainly confirm him.
The only other exception to the seven-year rule was made for the legendary Gen. George Marshall in 1950. Even some of Trump’s strongest critics have supported the waiver for Mattis, arguing that he can serve as a steadying influence on a new president with no experience in national security.
At an uncontentious confirmation hearing, Mattis sketched an international security scene dominated by dark images of an aggressive Russia, resurgent China and violent Mideast. He described Iran as a major destabilizing force, called North Korea a potential nuclear threat and said the U.S. military needs to grow and become better prepared for combat.
“We see each day a world awash in change,” he said.