General James “Mad Dog” Mattis has been approved by the Senate Armed Services Committee (via MSN).
Following Donald Trump’s inauguration and official nomination of Mattis, he’ll be all set for his full Senate confirmation.
The committee passed his candidacy 26-1. Senator Kristen Gillibrand of New York was the only member who opposed, which came as no surprise considering her severe questioning of Mattis during his hearing last week. Gillibrand was bound and determined during his hearing to trip him up with questions about women’s role in military capacities.
Gillibrand also opposed the General because the number of years he’s been retired from the military does not comply with the designated requirement.
Mattis retired in 2013. The law requires Defense secretaries be out of uniform for at least seven years. But Congress passed a waiver last week that allows Mattis to bypass that law.
When the committee voted on the waiver last week, Gillibrand was joined in her opposition to the waiver by Democratic Sens. Richard Blumenthal (Conn.) and Elizabeth Warren (Mass.).
If all goes according to plan, however, Mattis’ swift approval next week will be an initial victory for Trump’s cabinet picks.