The Senate has confirmed James Mattis, a retired U.S. Marine Corps general and former chief of the U.S. Central Command, as defense secretary under President Donald Trump’s administration, The Hill newspaper reported Friday.
Rebecca Kheel writes Trump signed a waiver legislation to exempt Mattis from a law that requires the Defense Department‘s civilian leader to be out of military service for at least seven years.
Reuters reported Saturday the Senate approved James Mattis in a 98-1 vote Friday to lead DoD and confirmed John Kelly, former commander of the U.S. Southern Command, to head the Department of Homeland Security through a separate 88-11 vote.
The upper chamber plans to meet again on Monday to take up the nomination of Rep. Mike Pompeo (R-Kansas) as CIA director, according to the report by Patricia Zengerle.
The report said Trump urged members of the Senate to confirm the remaining cabinet nominees as soon as possible.
