Trump picks Mattis, Kelly sworn in

Vice President Pence swore in retired Marine Gen. James Mattis as Defense secretary and retired Marine Gen. John Kelly as secretary of Homeland Security on Friday night.

Mattis and Kelly are the first members of President Trump’s Cabinet to take their oaths of office. The swearing-in ceremonies took place just hours after the Senate voted to confirm the nominees.

Mattis, who retired from military service in 2013, was granted a waiver last week allowing him to lead the Pentagon. Secretaries of Defense are typically required to have been out of active-duty military service for at least seven years.

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As secretary of Homeland Security, Kelly will be in charge of overseeing Trump’s much-touted crackdown on illegal immigration.

The Senate on Friday evening confirmed Mattis by a vote of 98-1, while Kelly was confirmed by a vote of 88-11. Neither vote was controversial after both nominees sailed through their confirmation hearings earlier this month.

Both nominees previously served in the Obama administration, with Mattis running U.S. Central Command and Kelly overseeing U.S. Southern Command.

Trump and Pence were formally sworn into office themselves earlier on Friday.

Trump’s other Cabinet appointees are still awaiting confirmation.