Senate confirms Lloyd Austin, making him the nation's first Black defense secretary [View all]
Source: USA Today
WASHINGTON – The Senate on Friday confirmed Lloyd Austin as the nation's first Black defense secretary, the second Biden nominee to be confirmed by the chamber.
Austin's confirmation process wasn't without bumps. Controversy flared over a law barring recently retired military officers from serving as the defense secretary, but top Democrats lined up behind Austin's nomination, citing the need for Biden to have his national security team in place after the Jan. 6 riot at the Capitol. The law requires that troops be retired for seven years before taking the post.
The House passed a waiver from the law for Austin on Thursday afternoon, and the Senate followed suit shortly after.
Some lawmakers had expressed concern about granting another waiver for Austin after they had done so for Trump’s first defense secretary Jim Mattis, but they ultimately supported Austin. House Armed Services Committee Chairman Adam Smith, D-Wash., said on the House floor he had “no concern whatsoever about Lloyd Austin upholding civilian control of the military.”
Read more: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2021/01/22/lloyd-austin-becomes-nations-first-black-defense-secretary/6661471002/
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