Path cleared for Austin's confirmation

The Senate has voted 69-27 to approve a waiver for retired Army Gen. Lloyd Austin to serve as defense secretary.

A final confirmation vote is expected tomorrow.

The waiver, which the House voted 326-78 to grant Austin earlier today, is required because Austin has been retired from the military for fewer than seven years.

A similar waiver was given to retired Marine Corps Gen. Jim Mattis when he became former President Trump's first defense secretary. Prior to that, the waiver has only been provided once in U.S. history -- to Army Gen. George Marshall in 1950.

Austin, the first black U.S. defense secretary, said during a nomination hearing with the Senate Armed Services Committee this week he would conduct numerous Pentagon reviews in advance of publishing the 2022 National Defense Strategy.

President Biden's choice of Austin raised concerns among some lawmakers about civilian control of the military.

Sen. Jack Reed (D-RI), the top Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee, supported a waiver for Mattis and, at the time, said he would not do it again. Reed changed his mind, however, and voted to back Austin.

"I backed the waiver for General Mattis in large part because of Donald Trump's inexperience and temperament and had no intention of supporting another waiver so soon," Reed said. "That rationale seems almost quaint now considering the seismic forces we are currently facing."

Reed said he believes Austin is "the right person to lead the Pentagon through a unique, complex, and unprecedented set of challenges."

Biden has said he picked Austin because he believes the retired general is the best person for the job as the United States tries to end the COVID-19 pandemic. Austin's nomination was also championed by the Black Congressional Caucus.

At his nomination hearing this week, Austin pledged his support for the Pentagon's civilian leadership.

"I intend to surround myself with and empower experienced, capable civilians who will enable healthy civil-military relations, grounded in meaningful oversight," he said.

Austin also promised to "rebalance collaboration and coordination" between the Joint Staff and the Office of the Secretary of Defense “to ensure civilian input is integrated at every level of the process.”