Joe Biden plans to name retired Gen. Lloyd Austin as his secretary of defense, according to people familiar with the matter.
Why it matters: This will be the second administration in a row to go against the tradition of civilian control at the Department of Defense.
- Austin will require a waiver from Congress, just as Gen. James Mattis did in 2017, because he hasn’t been retired enough time since being on active duty.
Editor's note: This a breaking news story. Please check back for updates.
