Campaign Action
Arizona Rep. Ruben Gallego on Monday joined Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand in opposing Donald Trump's Secretary of Defense nominee, former Marine Gen. James Mattis, who only resigned from the military two years ago. Gallego, an Iraq War veteran, said he respected Mattis's service but added, “I cannot support a waiver. Civilian leadership of the military is too important."
“As a veteran, I believe strongly in the principle of civilian leadership of the military. Current law requires that a military officer be out of active duty for at least seven years before taking the job of defense secretary. I do not believe this long-standing check should be cast aside, and I will oppose a waiver of this rule, even for someone as exceptionally qualified as General Mattis.”
Last month, Gallego issued a stirring call to action shortly after the election, urging Democrats to "treat Trump like the threat he is."
"Anything that makes Trump more powerful, makes him more dangerous,” he said. “We must not lift a finger to help him scam our country. We must instead put every effort into stopping him."