President-elect Joe Biden is already rounding up who he has chosen for key positions in his administration. Following the previous announcements, Biden has revealed that he has chosen former general Lloyd Austin for the post of Defense Secretary.
This week, Biden made his case for choosing Austin to head the Pentagon while urging Congress to override the legal prohibition that prevents serving military members to be the head of the Defense Department. The nomination of Austin came to be controversial as some members of Congress have raised concerns regarding the need for civilian control of the military. However, Biden wrote in his piece for The Atlantic that Austin should be confirmed by the Senate as soon as possible, noting the emerging national security threats.
Biden also wrote that Austin is aware of the difference between Austin’s potential duties as Defense Secretary and those of a military officer. The president-elect also wrote that he is aware of the frayed civil-military dynamic that was present during the Trump administration, referencing Donald Trump’s tendency to hire former generals as Defense Secretaries, such as former Marine general Jim Mattis. Nevertheless, Biden said that Austin is capable of restoring the civil-military dynamic that was once present.
Should Austin be confirmed by the Senate, he would also be the first Black man to head the Pentagon. His nomination also comes at a time where racial tensions were present in the country. His case was supported by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who said that Austin is in a good position to lead the Pentagon at this time. Michelle Flournoy, who was among the reported candidates for the post, released a statement congratulating Austin on being Biden’s choice for Pentagon chief.
In the midst of naming his picks for key Cabinet positions, Biden is also focused on trying to slow down the spread of COVID-19 in the country. The president-elect unveiled his plan to combat the pandemic as he announced his picks for health departments, including making top infectious diseases expert Dr. Anthony Fauci as his chief medical expert. The highlight in his announcement was his plan to implement a mask mandate for 100 days.