Jun 17 WATCH: Austin says Al-Qaida could regroup in Afghanistan in 2 years By Robert Burns, Lolita C. Baldor, Associated Press An extremist group like al-Qaida may be able to regenerate in Afghanistan and pose a threat to the U.S. homeland within two years of the American military's withdrawal from the country, the Pentagon's top leaders said Thursday. Continue reading
Jun 10 WATCH: U.S. begins shifting Afghan combat operations outside country By Lolita C. Baldor, Associated Press Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin is telling Congress that the U.S. military has already begun conducting combat operations and surveillance in Afghanistan from outside the country's borders, as the troop withdrawal continues. Continue reading
Jun 09 WATCH: ‘Transgender rights are human rights,” Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin says By Associated Press Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin says he is proud to call the LGBTQ members of the Armed forces his "teammates" every month. Austin's comments came during a speech to mark the 10th Annual LGBT Pride Month Celebration at the Pentagon… Continue reading
Apr 11 Pentagon chief declares ‘ironclad’ U.S. commitment to Israel By Robert Burns, Associated Press U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on Sunday declared an “enduring and ironclad” American commitment to Israel, reinforcing support at a tense time in Israeli politics and amid questions about the Biden administration’s efforts to revive nuclear negotiations with Israel’s archenemy,… Continue reading
Feb 19 Pentagon chief urges immediate reduction in Taliban violence By Lolita C. Baldor, Robert Burns, Associated Press In his first press conference as defense secretary, Lloyd Austin says progress toward a durable peace in Afghanistan and an end to U.S. military involvement there depends on the Taliban reducing attacks. Continue reading
Feb 05 WATCH: Pentagon holds briefing as White House plans troop assistance with COVID-19 vaccines By Associated Press Currently about 6.9 million Americans have received the full two-dose regimen required to get maximum protection from the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines. That translates to about 2 percent of the U.S. population. Continue reading
Feb 02 Pentagon chief purges defense boards of Trump appointees By Lolita C. Baldor, Associated Press Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has ordered hundreds of Pentagon advisory board members to resign this month as part of a broad review of the panels, essentially purging several dozen last-minute appointments under the Trump administration. Continue reading
Jan 22 WATCH: Lloyd Austin wins Senate confirmation as first Black Pentagon chief By Robert Burns, Andrew Taylor, Associated Press Lloyd J. Austin, a West Point graduate who rose to the Army's elite ranks and marched through racial barriers in a 41-year career, won Senate confirmation Friday to become the nation's first Black secretary of defense. Continue reading
Jan 21 WATCH: House votes on waiver for Biden defense secretary nominee Lloyd Austin By Robert Burns, Andrew Taylor, Associated Press Thursday's 326-78 vote would grant a waiver that would exempt Austin from the seven-year rule. All signs point to quick action in the Senate after that, putting Austin on track to be confirmed as secretary by week's end. Continue reading
Jan 19 WATCH: Gen. Lloyd Austin’s full opening statement in Senate confirmation hearing By Associated Press Addressing the Senate Armed Services Committee, Austin, who served 41 years in the Army, vowed to surround himself with qualified civilians and include them in policy decisions. Continue reading