The House voted 268-151 Friday afternoon to waive retired Marine Gen. James Mattis from a restriction that would prevent him as serving as secretary of defense, sending the bill to the president’s desk.
The Senate cleared the measure in an 81-17 vote on Thursday.
Democrats in the lower chamber had protested the move, after President-elect Donald Trump’s transition team canceled testimony from Mattis before the House Armed Services Committee. Although the House has no role in confirming cabinet nominees, the panel still had to vote to excuse Mattis from the requirement that secretaries of defense be separated from the service for seven years prior to taking the post. He was scheduled to appear after answering questions from the Senate Armed Services Committee Thursday, but his visit was nixed the day before, angering the House committee’s minority and frustrating its chairman, Mac Thornberry.
Still, the committee’s Republicans came through in a 34-28 vote to send the waiver to the House floor. One week out from Inauguration Day, White House press secretary Josh Earnest said Friday that President Obama would sign the measure.
“We can anticipate that if it did make it to the president’s desk, he would sign it.”
