NEW YORK -- A U.S. Senate committee backed retired Gen. Lloyd Austin for defense secretary on Thursday, sending him a step closer to becoming the first African American to hold the post.
The former four-star general was easily granted a waiver by both houses of Congress from the seven-year "cooling-off period" needed before a retired service member can return to lead the Pentagon.
.jpg?width=178&fit=cover&gravity=faces&dpr=2&quality=medium&source=nar-cms&format=auto&height=100)
