President-elect Joe Biden plans to nominate retired Army General Lloyd Austin as defence secretary, according to two people familiar with the decision, making him the first African American to lead the Pentagon.
Austin has already had a career punctuated by firsts — including as the first Black general to command U.S. forces in the Middle East.
The choice of Austin came as Biden was under pressure from African American lawmakers and organizations to deliver on his pledge to produce the most diverse cabinet in U.S. history. Biden’s transition office declined to comment on his decision on Monday night in advance of an announcement.
In addition to winning Senate confirmation, Austin would need Congress to waive a law requiring military officers to be retired for seven years before serving as defence secretary. Lawmakers have said they would be reluctant to provide another exemption after having done one for retired Marine Corps General Jim Mattis, President Donald Trump’s first defence secretary.
Michele Flournoy, a former Pentagon official who would have been the first female defence secretary, was an early favorite for the post, but Biden considered Austin and former Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson, who is also Black, at the urging of Representative James Clyburn of South Carolina, a close Biden supporter, according to one of the people. Biden’s choice of Austin was reported earlier Monday by Politico.
