Senate committee approves McMaster in closed session

The Senate Armed Services Committee voted to advance the nomination of Lt. Gen. H.R. McMaster, the White House national security adviser, to the full Senate for a vote that would allow him to be reappointed to his 3-star rank.

The committee noted in a statement that the appointment of the national security adviser does not require Senate confirmation, though the law does require McMaster to be reappointed to lieutenant general while serving in the new role.

McMaster was named national security adviser last month following the resignation of Michael Flynn, who President Trump fired after an "erosion" of trust stemming from statements Flynn made about a wiretapped conversation he had with Russian officials.

Before he was named national security adviser, McMaster was director of the Army Capabilities Integration Center, housed within Training and Doctrine Command.