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Lloyd Austin to Be Sworn In as Defense Secretary Monday, Biden Says
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January 25, 2021
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0:57Now PlayingThe Senate confirmed retired Army General Lloyd Austin as defense secretary on Friday, making him the first Black leader of the U.S. military and the second member of President Joe Biden’s cabinet to win approval.
The 93-2 vote came the day after both the House and Senate waived a law barring service members from leading the Pentagon within seven years of retiring. Austin, who rose through the ranks to command U.S. forces in the Middle East, retired in 2016.
“Mr. Austin will be the first African-American to ever helm the Defense Department in its history, a powerful symbol of the diversity and history of America’s armed forces,” Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said on the Senate floor. “Mr. Austin has a storied career in the Army, but those days are behind him. As secretary of defense he promised to empower and lift up his civilian staff, and I believe that he will be an outstanding secretary of defense for everyone at the Pentagon.”
Austin’s confirmation followed Senate approval on Wednesday for Avril Haines, the director of national intelligence. The Senate traditionally has sought to act on national security nominees quickly after a new president takes office to send a message of stability to allies and adversaries. Senate leaders were negotiating to resolve objections to taking up the nomination of Antony Blinken as secretary of state.
At midday, Austin arrived at the Pentagon, where he was scheduled to receive briefings on issues from the coronavirus to China and the Middle East, according to a Defense Department statement. He also was scheduled to hold a phone call with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg.
In his first remarks to the military as secretary, Austin said one of his jobs -- along with ensuring U.S. forces have the “tools, technology, weapons and training” they need -- is to help the federal government accelerate efforts to get the coronavirus pandemic under control.
“You have already come to the aid of our nation’s health care professionals,” Austin said in the Friday message. “You can expect that mission to continue. But we must help the federal government move further and faster to eradicate the devastating effects of the coronavirus.”
Before the Senate vote, Jack Reed of Rhode Island, the top Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee, called Austin’s confirmation “an extraordinary historic moment.”
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