/https://specials-images.forbesimg.com/imageserve/5fcfbbd34ad083c3bada036a/0x0.jpg?cropX1=0&cropX2=3000&cropY1=0&cropY2=1688&w=1200&resize=1200,675&ssl=1 "Biden Just Announced Lloyd Austin For Secretary Of Defense — Here’s How Experts Are Reacting")
Topline
President-elect Joe Biden officially chose retired Army Gen. Lloyd Austin for secretary of defense Tuesday afternoon, which would make him the first Black leader of the Pentagon if he’s confirmed — the pick has drawn applause from some observers impressed by his military credentials but criticism from those concerned about an erosion of civilian control over the armed forces.
Army Gen. Lloyd Austin III, commander of the U.S. Central Command, testifies before the Senate Armed … [+]
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Key Facts
A Black secretary of defense would be a significant milestone for a military where 17% of all active-duty members are Black — Rep. Karen Bass (D-Calif.), chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, endorsed Austin in a CNN interview Sunday.
Many have praised Austin’s decades-long military record, during which he led U.S. forces in Iraq and helmed U.S. Central Command, which oversees the U.S. presence in the Middle East: Susan Rice, who served as national security advisor for President Barack Obama, tweeted, “This country will benefit yet again from his service.”
However, other observers are wary of choosing an ex-general who retired from military service just four years ago for a job normally reserved for civilians, with former Pentagon advisor Jim Golby writing in the New York Times Monday that the DOD works best with civilian oversight.
Before Austin is confirmed, Congress will need to waive a federal law requiring that secretaries of defense be separated from the military for seven years, and several senators from both parties have told reporters they would not vote for a waiver, though Senate Armed Services Committee Chair James Inhofe (R-Okla.) supports it.
Surprising Fact
Congress began mandating a “cooling-off period” between military service and Pentagon leadership in 1947. Since then, it has waived this requirement for just two generals nominated to be secretary of defense: George Marshall in 1950 and James Mattis in 2017. In an Atlantic article announcing his pick, Biden urged members of Congress to pass a waiver for Austin, just as they did for Mattis.
Key Background
Austin graduated from West Point in 1975, kicking off a four-decade career in the military. He has overseen units in Iraq and Afghanistan, and he worked as the Army’s vice chief of staff before being named to run CENTCOM in 2013. He reportedly worked closely with Biden during Obama’s first term, when the military began a major drawdown of troops from Iraq.
Crucial Quote
“He is uniquely qualified to take on the challenges and crises we face in the current moment, and I look forward to working closely with him as a trusted partner,” Biden said in a statement Tuesday afternoon.
Tangent
Since retiring from the military, Austin has served on the board of defense contractor Raytheon, which has made some left-wing commentators skeptical.
Further Reading
Biden Plans to Tap Lloyd Austin, Former Iraq Commander, as Defense Secretary (New York Times)
Why I Chose Lloyd Austin as Secretary of Defense (The Atlantic)
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