New Law Needed for Trump’s Defense Pick

“Retired Marine Gen. James Mattis has emerged as President-elect Donald Trump’s leading candidate to be defense secretary, people familiar with the transition said Tuesday, but the choice would require Congress to pass a special law clearing the way for a recently retired military officer to take the Pentagon’s top civilian post,” the Wall Street Journal reports.

“The law would be required because the former top officer has been out of the military only 3½ years. U.S. laws designed to ensure civilian control over the military require a time period of seven years.”