WASHINGTON, Jan. 12 (UPI) -- Retired Marine Gen. James "Mad Dog" Mattis, Donald Trump's nominee for secretary of defense, is expected to face a Senate hearing Thursday as part of his confirmation process.
The Senate Armed Services Committee hearing is scheduled to start at 9:30 a.m.
The Trump transition team has canceled his planned appearance before the House Armed Services Committee, which was scheduled to begin at 2:30 p.m.
Though the Senate has the power to approve Mattis' nomination, the general needs both chambers of Congress to OK a waiver to pursue the position due to Title 10 of the U.S. Code that mandates the president must nominate someone "from civilian life."
Related
The same rule says a person "may not be appointed as secretary of defense within seven years after relief from active duty as a commissioned officer of a regular component of an armed force."
Mattis is a four-star general who retired in 2013 after serving in the military for 44 years. He is widely known for his leadership role during the 2004 Battle of Fallujah in the Iraq War. Since retirement, he has been a sharp critic of President Barack Obama's nuclear deal with Iran and the Obama administration's hesitance to enter military conflict.
Mattis generated controversy in 2005 during a panel discussion for apparently promoting violence.
"It's fun to shoot some people. I'll be right up there with you. I like brawling," Mattis said when referring to Afghan men "who slap women around for five years because they didn't wear a veil."
In November, Trump praised Mattis as a "true general's general!"
