James Mattis in Ballotpedia.org political website

On Civil Rights: Opposed women serving in infantry; but will allow it

Asked by Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) if he intends to roll back the opening of infantry positions to women in the military. Mattis responded, "I've never come into any job with an agenda, a pre-formed agenda of changing anything. I come in assuming the people before me deserve respect for the job they did and the decisions they've made." Pressed further on the issue and asked about past statements he has made in opposition to women serving in infantry positions, Mattis said, "I have no plan to oppose women in any aspect of our military. In 2003, I had hundreds of Marines who happened to be women serving in my 23,000-person Marine division. I put them right on the front lines alongside everyone else." Source: Ballotpedia.org: 2017 Trump transition confirmation hearings Jan 13, 2017

On Civil Rights: Not about who soldiers go to bed with, but how they'll fight

Asked by Sen. Gillibrand if allowing LGBTQ individuals to serve in the military undermines U.S. military performance, Mattis responded, "Frankly, Senator, I've never cared much about two consenting adults and who they go to bed with. My concern is on the readiness of the force to fight and to make certain that it is at the top of its game." Source: Ballotpedia.org: 2017 Trump transition confirmation hearings Jan 13, 2017

On Foreign Policy: Putin is trying to break the North Atlantic alliance

Asked by committee chairman Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) on how he thinks the U.S. should respond to Russian military activity and foreign policy, Mattis said, "Since Yalta, we have a long list of times that we've tried to engage positively with Russia. We have a relatively short list of successes in that regard. And right now, I think the most important thing is that we recognize the reality of what we are dealing with Mr. Putin and that we recognize that he is trying to break the North Atlantic alliance, and we take the steps, the integrated steps, the diplomatic, economic, military and the Alliance steps in working with our allies to defend ourselves where we must." Source: Ballotpedia.org: 2017 Trump transition confirmation hearings Jan 13, 2017

On Homeland Security: Bring business reforms to the Department of Defense

Mattis commented on military spending in his opening remarks, saying that one of his top priorities as secretary of defense will be "to bring business reforms to the Department of Defense by instilling budget discipline and holding our leaders accountable." He added, "I will be committed to earning the trust and confidence of the Congress--and the American people--that the Department is the best possible steward of taxpayer money." Source: Ballotpedia.org: 2017 Trump transition confirmation hearings Jan 13, 2017

On War & Peace: Iran is single most enduring threat to stability and peace

Sen. Jack Reed (D-R.I.) asked Mattis about his views on the Iran nuclear deal. Mattis, in April 2016, called Iran "the single most enduring threat to stability and peace in the Middle East." In response to Reed's question, he said, "I think it is an imperfect arms control agreement--it's not a friendship treaty. But when America gives her word, we have to live up to it and work with our allies." In March 2016, Trump said, "My number one priority is to dismantle the disastrous deal with Iran." Source: Ballotpedia.org: 2017 Trump transition confirmation hearings Jan 13, 2017

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