Key Democrats Lukewarm On SecDef Nominee; Biden Signals Return To Soft Power

President-elect Joe Biden formally nominated retired general Lloyd Austin as his Secretary of Defense today, capping a day of speculation and reaction from Democrats on Capitol Hill that ranged from tepid support to outright rejection.

Austin will need a Congressional waiver to serve as the Pentagon’s top civilian, and may face a rocky path to confirmation, but Biden made clear today he has his full and committed support.