Lloyd Austin confirmed by Senate, becoming the nation’s first Black defense secretary
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Retired four-star Army general Lloyd Austin became the first African American defense secretary on Friday, shattering a racial barrier for the nation at a time when the military is assessing possible extremism in its ranks after the Capitol riot and reshaping the force to counter China.
The Senate confirmed Austin in a 93-to-2 vote, giving the incoming Pentagon boss a near-unanimous bipartisan congressional mandate as he sets about overseeing the 2.9 million service members and civilians around the world who fall under the umbrella of the Defense Department.
“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 said in a statement on Twitter after his confirmation. “Let’s get to work.”
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