May 24 Defense Secretary Austin tells U.S. Naval Academy graduates they will lead ‘through tension and uncertainty’ By Brian Witte, Associated Press Austin noted in his speech Friday how two graduates from last year were just aboard the USS Carney in the Red Sea, where they helped shoot down missiles and drones. Continue reading
Apr 26 WATCH: Austin and Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman Brown speak after Ukraine meeting By Lolita C. Baldor, Tara Copp, Associated Press Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin says the group since April 2022 has sourced millions of rounds of ammunition, rocket systems, armored vehicles and jets to help Ukraine rebuff Russia's invasion. Continue reading
Apr 16 WATCH: Pentagon holds briefing after Austin has first talk with Chinese counterpart since 2022 By News Desk and Lolita Baldor, Associated Press Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin spoke with China's national defense minister Tuesday morning, in the latest in a series of U.S. steps to improve communications with the Chinese military and reduce unsafe and aggressive incidents in the Indo-Pacific. Continue reading
Mar 26 Watch 3:52 Pentagon presents alternative to Israel’s plan to assault Rafah By Nick Schifrin, Dan Sagalyn At the Pentagon Tuesday, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin presented an alternative vision to Israel’s stated plan to assault Rafah, the city in southern Gaza where more than one million Gazans have fled. The discussion between Austin and Israeli Defense… Continue watching
Mar 26 WATCH: Meeting Gallant, Austin reaffirms Israel’s right to defense, urges alternate Rafah approach By Lolita C. Baldor, Associated Press U.S. defense leaders met with Israel's minister of defense on Tuesday as the United States warns against a ground invasion of the southern Gaza city of Rafah, but rising tensions between the two allies put any progress in question. Continue reading
Mar 19 WATCH: Defense Secretary Austin vows continued U.S. aid to Ukraine amid congressional funding stall By Lolita C. Baldor, Associated Press U.S. officials maintain there is bipartisan support for the package, but a number of Republicans oppose it and House Speaker Mike Johnson has refused to bring the bill to the House floor for a vote. Continue reading
Feb 29 WATCH: Pentagon holds news briefing as Austin testifies on medical absence to House committee By Lolita C. Baldor, Associated Press Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin faced pointed bipartisan criticism at a congressional hearing Thursday for his failure to promptly notify President Joe Biden and other U.S. leaders about his hospital stay last month. Republicans demanded to know why no one has… Continue reading
Feb 29 WATCH: Defense Secretary Austin testifies in House hearing about his hospitalization and absence By Lolita C. Baldor, Associated Press Under fire for his secret hospital stay last month, Austin told lawmakers Thursday that the Defense Department has made changes to improve the notification process if he must transfer decision-making authorities due to illness or lack of communications. Continue reading
Feb 26 WATCH: Pentagon releases report on failure to quickly notify Biden and others of Austin’s hospitalization By Lolita C. Baldor, Associated Press The review, which was done by Secretary Lloyd Austin's subordinates, largely absolves anyone of wrongdoing for the secrecy surrounding his hospitalization, which included several days in the intensive care unit. Continue reading
Feb 14 A day after his latest hospital release, Austin presses for urgent military aid for Ukraine By Tara Copp, Associated Press Austin hosted the virtual session of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group on Wednesday from his home where he is still recovering from complications from his December surgery to treat prostate cancer. Continue reading