Senate Armed Services Committee approves Mattis for defense The U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee voted overwhelmingly to recommend retired Marine Gen. James Mattis as the next secretary of defense. The committee voted 26-1 in favor of his nomination after recently approving a waiver in a congressional process to further his appointment. This nomination will now head to the Senate. The 66-year-old has four decades of military service, but retired less than four years ago. The 1947 National Security Act mandates a seven-year gap between active duty military service and a Cabinet position. For Mattis, a congressional waiver was required.

The Senate Armed Services Committee has overwhelmingly approved President-elect Donald Trump's pick for defense secretary.

The Republican-led panel voted 26-1 Wednesday to recommend that the full Senate consider the choice of retired Marine Gen. James Mattis to run the Pentagon.

Mattis retired from military service in 2013 after a 41-year career in uniform.

Congress last week approved legislation that grants a one-time exception for Mattis from the law that bars former service members who have been out of uniform for less than seven years from holding the top Pentagon job. The restriction is meant to preserve civilian control of the military.

The committee's vote means that when Mattis is formally nominated by Trump the appointment will be sent directly to the Senate for a confirmation vote