Sen. Elizabeth Warren is now the third Democrat in the Senate to oppose granting a waiver to President-elect Joe Biden’s defense secretary pick. retired Gen. Lloyd Austin.
“I have great respect for Gen. Austin. His career has been exemplary, and I look forward to meeting him and talking to him more, but I opposed a waiver for Gen. [James] Mattis, and I will oppose a waiver for Gen. Austin,” Warren (D-Mass.) told reporters on Capitol Hill Tuesday.
“I don’t think we ought to be doing these waivers,” she added.
By law, a defense secretary must be retired from active military service for at least seven years before taking over the civilian role at the Pentagon, unless the House and Senate grant a waiver.
Austin, who was tapped by the incoming commander-in-chief to lead the Defense Department this week, retired in 2016.
In taking her concerns public, Warren joins a growing chorus of Democrats in both chambers of Congress who have voiced their unwillingness to support a waiver for Austin, especially so soon after supporting one for retired Gen. James Mattis under President Trump.
Biden’s Whole cabinet will be CRAP !!!! Bunch of criminals & Losers who
already have been used up , & proven incompetant for years !!!!