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US Senate confirms Austin as first Black chief of Pentagon
WASHINGTON, Jan 22, 2021 (BSS/AFP) – The US Senate confirmed retired general Lloyd Austin as secretary of defense Friday, the second cabinet nominee of new President Joe Biden to gain approval and the first African American to lead the Pentagon.
Austin gained overwhelming support from both Biden’s Democrats and opposition Republicans, despite having required a special Congressional waiver because he was a recently retired military officer being placed in a job reserved for civilians.
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