Former general Lloyd Austin confirmed as Biden's defense secretary
by Joan E Greve and Lauren Gambino in Washington from World news | The Guardian on (#5D66N)
- Austin is first African American to lead Pentagon
- Senate votes 97-2 after House waives ban on recently ex-officers
- US politics live - follow latest updates
The US Senate on Friday confirmed Joe Biden's nominee, Lloyd Austin, to serve as the secretary of defense, making the retired four-star army officer the first African American to lead the Pentagon.
The final vote was 93 to 2, with only two Senate Republicans - Mike Lee of Utah and Josh Hawley of Missouri - opposing Austin's nomination.
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