Home Top Stories Defense Secretary James Mattis to retire Defense Secretary James Mattis to retire 12/21/2018 342 Trump says Defense Secretary James Mattis will be retiring at the end of February and a replacement will be named shortly. RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR Mideast Latest: Israel’s Army Moves Into Rafah Border-Crossing Area Dozens arrested at UCLA amid new protests ‘This would be a seismic event’: Judge warns Trump that jail is really possible