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| President-elect Donald Trump |
By: Joe Gould
WASHINGTON — Democrats, and some Republicans, are counting on Gen. James Mattis, Donald Trump’s pick for defense secretary, to be a check on the impulsive, inexperienced president-elect.
WASHINGTON — Democrats, and some Republicans, are counting on Gen. James Mattis, Donald Trump’s pick for defense secretary, to be a check on the impulsive, inexperienced president-elect.
But the president-elect just checked Mattis.
Trump’s transition team benched the former Marine Corps four-star just as he was to appear before the House Armed Services Committee on Thursday. And in a single stroke, the transition embarrassed HASC Chairman Mac Thornberry, R-Texas, complicated Mattis’ confirmation and undercut the central argument in Mattis’ favor with Democrats — that he can stand up to Trump.
Because Mattis retired in 2013, he needs Congress to pass legislation to waive a seven-year cooling-off period for uniformed leaders before he can take the Pentagon's top civilian job. Until Tuesday night, Mattis was committed — and "eager," Thornberry said — to testify before the HASC after his Senate confirmation hearing Thursday, as a show of deference to the principle of civilian control of the military. The waiver applies to a 70-year-old law, and it would be the second ever after 1950.
“Where Gen. Mattis was willing to come and testify on this topic before the House Armed Services Committee and the Trump White House said 'no,' clearly that concerns me, that they’re not listening to their own secretary of defense,” said HASC Emerging Threats and Capabilities Subcommittee ranking member Rep. Jim Langevin, D-R.I. “On something like this, they could have and should have deferred to his wishes.”
House Democrats also accused their Republican counterparts of ceding the legislature’s power to the incoming president. Rep. Jackie Speier, D-Calif., told Defense News that Republicans privately expressed misgivings but were unable to rally for a tough stand.
“Early on, I think, there was some muscle, but I think it just atrophied,” she said, adding: “For eight years there’s been a drumbeat from Republicans about the president rolling over Congress. That’s the very first act, even before [Trump] is president, and they’re whimpering.”
The waiver faces a House floor vote Friday, where it is expected to pass in spite of surging Democratic opposition. The waiver passed the Senate 81-17 on Thursday in a largely bipartisan vote.
HASC Tactical Air and Land Forces Subcommittee Chairman Mike Turner, R-Ohio, voted for the waiver, but said Wednesday of the transition team's action: "It certainly sets a very bad precedent for a position that requires working very closely with Congress."
Read the full story at DefenseNews