Slotkin Statement on General Lloyd Austin

WASHINGTON, D.C. –– U.S. Rep. Elissa Slotkin (MI-08) released the following statement on reports President-elect Biden will name Gen. Lloyd Austin as his nominee for Secretary of Defense:

"I have deep respect for General Lloyd Austin. We worked together on Iraq when he commanded U.S. forces there, when he was vice chief of the Army, and when he was the CENTCOM commander. But choosing another recently retired general to serve in a role that is designed for a civilian just feels off. The job of secretary of defense is purpose-built to ensure civilian oversight of the military. That is why it requires a waiver from the House and Senate to put a recently retired military officer in the job. And after the last four years, civil-military relations at the Pentagon definitely need to be rebalanced. General Austin has had an incredible career — but I'll need to understand what he and the Biden Administration plan to do to address these concerns before I can vote for his waiver."