Biden's CENTCOM pick to head Pentagon raises concern over civilian leadership
Gen. Lloyd Austin has emerged as the president-elect's likely pick over former Pentagon policy chief Michele Flournoy.
US President-elect Joe Biden is set to name retired four-star Army Gen. Lloyd Austin, the former head of US Central Command, to oversee the Pentagon, two sources familiar with the matter confirmed to Al-Monitor.
Austin, who formerly commanded all US forces in the Middle East during the Barack Obama administration, would be the first Black defense secretary in US history.
His likely selection, first reported by Politico and confirmed by multiple news outlets, surprised some former Defense Department and national security officials working with the Biden-Harris transition team. Austin retired from the US military less than five years ago, meaning he will need a waiver from Congress to head the Defense Department, which is typically run by a civilian official.
Austin’s last-minute prospect has support among some members of the Congressional Black Caucus, including chairperson Rep. Karen Bass (D-CA). His pick comes two weeks after Biden was expected to name Michele Flournoy — the Pentagon’s former top policy official under the Obama administration — to lead the department.
