pentagon

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.

WATCH: Pentagon approves 20 more COVID-19 vaccination teams

By Associated Press

The Biden administration has said that delivering the vaccine to Americans is a top priority, raising questions about why the rollout of the teams hasn't moved more quickly.

Are vaccines reaching communities in need? We don’t have enough data

By PBS NewsHour

The Pentagon committed to sending around 1,000 active duty troops to help vaccinate people across the nation after the White House promised to open community vaccination centers, increasing availability to those in need. Dr. Julie Morita, Executive Vice President of…

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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.

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.

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.

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.

AP report: Pentagon memo maps out plan to expand diversity in the force

By Lolita C. Baldor, Associated Press

The plan, however, skirts the more politically sensitive issues that have roiled the nation and the Trump administration this year, such as the renaming of bases that honor Confederate leaders or removing Confederate statues.

WATCH: Pentagon set to begin COVID-19 vaccinations on small scale

By Robert Burns, Associated Press

Pentagon officials say that once the Food and Drug Administration gives its “emergency use authorization,” the military will start giving shots within a day or two.