The U.S. Senate voted last Friday to confirm retired Gen. Lloyd Austin as President Joe Bidenâs pick as the U.S. Secretary of Defense.Â
The highly decorated military veteran will now serve as the first African American to run the Pentagon in U.S. history. Â
Austin, who retired in 2016, had to be granted a waiver in order to take the role, allowing him eligibility despite a law requiring the defense secretary to be retired from active-duty for a minimum of seven years before taking on the position. The House voted in favor of the waiver Thursday afternoon, following suit of the Senate which also approved the measure, paving the way for his confirmation Friday in the Senate.