President-elect Donald Trump’s pick of retired General James “Mad Dog” Mattis to be his Secretary of Defense has been met by overwhelming bipartisan support, and by some opposition who feel the retired Marine general cannot leap frog a “long-standing” law in order to become Secretary of Defense.
Mattie has only been out of uniform for 7 years, a whole three years short of what The National Security Act of 1947 calls for.
The National Security Act of 1947 states the following:
”That a person who has within ten years been on active duty as a commissioned officer in a Regular component of the armed services shall not be eligible for appointment as Secretary of Defense.”
Mattis needs a special waiver from Congress to sidestep the law, a congressional waiver that is said to already in the process of being granted to him.
Fellow former U.S. Marine, Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) admires Mattis for his years of “dedication and leadership,” but will not support his waiver.
“As a fellow Marine, I greatly admire General James Mattis’ dedication and leadership. We all should be incredibly grateful for his many years of service to our nation.
“As a veteran, I believe strongly in the principle of civilian leadership of the military. Current law requires that a military officer be out of active duty for at least seven years before taking the job of defense secretary. I do not believe this long-standing check should be cast aside, and I will oppose a waiver of this rule, even for someone as exceptionally qualified as General Mattis.”-Rep. Ruben Gallego (D)
