Senate Panel OKs Bill to Let Mattis Run Pentagon

Defense Secretary-designate James Mattis at his confirmation hearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee on Capitol Hill in Washington on Jan. 12, 2017. AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite

The Senate Armed Services Committee has overwhelmingly passed legislation to allow retired Marine Gen. James Mattis to run the Pentagon.

The Republican-led panel voted 24-3 to clear the bill after Mattis testified before the committee. Democrats Kirsten Gillibrand, Richard Blumenthal and Elizabeth Warren opposed it.

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