Heinrich Statement On Resignation Of Defense Secretary Mattis

WASHINGTON, D.C. (Dec. 21, 2018) - U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, released the following statement on the resignation of Defense Secretary James Mattis: 

“Secretary Mattis has been a voice of stability in an otherwise chaotic administration. Throughout his decades of service, Secretary Mattis has proven to be a tough leader on and off the battlefield. Whether it was helping lead the initial invasion of Afghanistan after 9/11, conducting stability operations throughout the Iraq War, or overseeing military leaders across the Middle East, Secretary Mattis has relentlessly focused on defeating the threats facing the United States and our allies.

“His resignation sends a distressing message that President Trump has undermined his entire national security team and created a toxic environment for our national security establishment. Mattis understood the importance of our alliances and the dangers of embracing our enemies. His decision to resign is a rebuke of the president’s erratic and impulsive foreign policy decisions and should sound the alarm on the perilous path our country is headed toward.”