WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Hakeem Jeffries (NY-08), a member of the Congressional Black Caucus, issued the following statement after President-elect Biden nominated retired General Lloyd Austin as Secretary of Defense: 

“Lloyd Austin is a groundbreaking, visionary, highly capable patriot who has dedicated his life to protecting and serving the American people. It is beyond peradventure that General Austin will serve the country well as Secretary of Defense. He is a crisis-tested leader who has broken barriers in a historic ascent to our military’s highest ranks. General Austin’s nomination deserves full and fair consideration in the Senate.”