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Senate confirms Biden's Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, the first Black Pentagon chief

The Senate on Friday confirmed President Biden's Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin in a big bipartisan vote, marking the first time an African American will lead the Pentagon in U.S. history.

The vote was 93-2.

Austin is a former four-star Army general who served in the military for 41 years before retiring in 2016. He was the commander of the U.S. Central Command, where he helped lead the effort to defeat ISIS in Iraq and Syria.

Biden built a close relationship with Austin during his vice presidency and said during a December news conference he tapped his friend because "there's no question that he is the right person for this job at the right moment."

Austin tweeted a picture of himself and Biden after his successful confirmation vote.

"It’s an honor and a privilege to serve as our country’s 28th Secretary of Defense, and I’m especially proud to be the first African American to hold the position," Austin wrote. "Let’s get to work."

Austin enjoyed broad support. The only two "no" votes were GOP Sens. Josh Hawley of Missouri and Mike Lee of Utah.

Sen. James Inhofe, R-Okla., the top Republican on the Senate Armed Services Committee backed Austin for the job. "I am very confident that Lloyd Austin will be a strong, capable civilian leader for the Pentagon at this critical time," Inhofe said.

On Thursday, both the House and Senate cleared the way for Austin's confirmation by passing a waiver to allow Austin to lead the Defense Department as a civilian. Under the law, a retired service member must be out of the military for seven years in order to be named defense secretary, and Austin hadn't been in retirement long enough.


https://www.foxnews.com/politics/senate-confirms-bidens-defense-secretary-lloyd-austin-first-black-pentagon-chief.amp?__twitter_impression=true

Congratulations Lloyd Austin

Oga biden is trying to hard to be politicaly correct... At the expense of real synergy and cohesion!

Believe it or not this is still Nepotism...
Are there not hundreds of red necks more qualified for the job?

The guy Huge woooooo

Nepotism how? Someone is trying to run all inclusive govt and shun discrimination u're here venting ur frustration over Trump election lost. U can't be more American than the real nigga.

wearsandtrends1:
Oga biden is trying to hard to be politicaly correct... At the expense of real synergy and cohesion!

Believe it or not this is still Nepotism...
Are there not hundreds of red necks more qualified for the job?