Former Vice President Joe Biden (D) on Wednesday struggled to defend his decision to nominate Army Gen. (Ret.) Lloyd Austin as his defense secretary, amid rising opposition from Senate Democrats at the prospect of another retired general at the helm of the Defense Department.
In order to get Austin confirmed, Congress would have to grant Austin a waiver from a law that requires a defense secretary be out of uniform for at least seven years, aimed at upholding the principle of civilian leadership of the armed forces.
It is the hypocrisy of Biden’s pick that has an increasing number of Democrats wary.
Already, four Senate Democrats have indicated they will vote against a waiver, according to Axios.
