The U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee voted overwhelmingly to recommend retired Marine Gen. James Mattis as the next secretary of defense. The committee voted 26-1 in favor of his nomination after recently approving a waiver in a congressional process to further his appointment. This nomination will now head to the Senate. The 66-year-old has four decades of military service, but retired less than four years ago. The 1947 National Security Act mandates a seven-year gap between active duty military service and a Cabinet position. For Mattis, a congressional waiver was required.
Senate Armed Services Committee approves Mattis for defense
