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President Biden s nominee for defense secretary, retired Army Gen. Lloyd Austin, testifies Tuesday at his confirmation hearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee. Greg Nash/Pool/Getty Images
The House of Representatives and Senate approved a waiver Thursday for retired Army Gen. Lloyd Austin to serve as President Biden s defense secretary. Both votes were overwhelming and bipartisan.
Normally the House has no role in confirming Cabinet secretaries. But Austin retired from the military four years ago, short of the seven years required by law to take the civilian job without a waiver from both houses of Congress.
President Biden s nominee for secretary of sefense, retired Army Gen. Lloyd Austin, testifying at his confirmation hearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee Tuesday.
The House of Representatives approved a waiver Thursday for retired Army Gen. Lloyd Austin to serve as President Biden s defense secretary.
Normally the House has no role in confirming Cabinet secretaries. But Austin retired from the military four years ago, short of the seven years required by law to take the civilian job without a waiver from both houses of Congress.
Austin will make history if confirmed by the Senate, becoming the nation s first Black Pentagon chief. He would be just the third defense secretary to require a waiver from Congress to assume the post.