The waiver required for Retired Marine Corps Gen. James Mattis to become the next Secretary of Defense was passed through the House of Representatives on Friday.

Mattis answered questions during his hearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee Thursday morning, hoping to influence legislators to grant him the waiver. Current laws deny military officers from taking cabinet posts until they have been retired for at least seven years.

Mattis led U.S. Central Command during the War on Terrorism before retiring in 2013.

The waiver was cleared in the Senate on Thursday.