WASHINGTON—Wasting little time to fill two critical national security posts, the Republican-led Senate overwhelmingly confirmed the two retired Marine generals President Donald Trump tapped to run the Pentagon and secure America’s borders.
Senators voted on Friday to approve the nomination of James Mattis to be defense secretary, 98-1, just hours after Trump’s swearing-in at the U.S. Capitol. The selection of John Kelly to lead the Department of Homeland Security cleared the Senate, 88-11.
At a luncheon following his inauguration, Trump said Mattis and Kelly were from “central casting,” referring to their reputations as tough-talking, no-nonsense commanders.
“If I’m doing a movie, I'd pick you, Gen. Mattis,” Trump said.
But Democrats succeeded in stalling until Monday action by the full Senate on Trump’s pick for CIA director, Rep. Mike Pompeo, R-Kan. Sens. Ron Wyden of Oregon, Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut and Patrick Leahy of Vermont objected to what they said was a “rushed confirmation” and demanded more time for Pompeo’s nomination to be “vetted, questioned and debated.”
