Lloyd Austin Confirmed by Senate, , Becomes First Black Defense Secretary.
Austin is the second of President Joe Biden's
cabinet nominees to be confirmed by the Senate.
The retired four-star general's appointment
was confirmed by a vote of 93-2.
Senators Josh Hawley (R-MO) and
Mike Lee (R-UT) were the only two
votes against his nomination.
Austin was also the first Black general
assigned to command a division
of the U.S. Army during combat.
He acted as commanding
general of U.S. forces in Iraq.
Austin's confirmation to
President Biden's cabinet
required a waiver passed by
the House of Representatives ...
... that allows him to serve in the role despite
having been retired from military service
for less than seven years. .
The top Republican member of the Senate Armed Services
Committee, Jim Inhofe, stated he could not "think of a
better person to take the helm than General Austin."