title: U.S. House panel narrowly backs Mattis waiver
text: WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. House of Representatives Armed Services Committee narrowly backed a waiver on Thursday that would allow James Mattis to serve as President-elect Donald Trump’s secretary of defense, despite having retired as a Marine general in 2013. The panel voted 34 to 28, along party lines, for a waiver of a provision of a law on civilian control of the U.S. military requiring a seven-year wait before active-duty military can lead the Department of Defense. Committee Democrats opposed the measure after Trump’s transition team canceled Mattis’ appearance at a committee hearing. 