Congress approved legislation Friday that allows retired Marine Gen. James Mattis to run the Pentagon in the Trump administration. The House easily cleared the bill, 268-151, despite complaints from many Democrats that Republicans had rushed the measure unnecessarily. A White House spokesman said President Barack Obama would sign the measure if Congress approved it before he leaves office. "We're not irrelevant because if we do not vote for this legislation, (Mattis) does not serve," Thornberry said. The legislation is separate from a Senate confirmation vote on Mattis.

Source: Fox News January 13, 2017 21:02 UTC