Gen. Mattis and Gen. John F. Kelly Both Confirmed in Senate Votes

Gen. James Mattis has been confirmed by the Senate by an overwhelming margin to become our next Secretary of Defense. He is the first confirmed member of Trump’s cabinet. So far, the vote stands at 98-1, with Sen. Kirsten Gilliband (D-NY) voting against Mattis’ nomination. 

The first bill President Donald Trump signed into law was the waiver bill that would permit him to serve as Secretary of Defense. Mattis needed this waiver because he has not been a civilian for the requisite number of years.

Mattis was considered to be a “non-controversial” cabinet pick. Thanks to rules installed during the Obama administration, he only needed a simple majority (50+1) rather than two-thirds of the Senate to be confirmed.

Gen. John F. Kelly Confirmed in Senate Vote As Homeland Security Secretary

Gen. John F. Kelly has been confirmed overwhelmingly by the Senate as Homeland Security Secretary. He is the second confirmed member of Trump’s cabinet after Gen. James Mattis as Secretary of Defense.

Kelly was considered to be a “non-controversial” cabinet pick, and thus, along with Mattis, was confirmed on Friday with little incident.