Austin, the first Black defense secretary, ends his term marred by Afghanistan but buoyed by Ukraine
Austin retired from the Army in 2016 only to be asked to return to the Pentagon by President Joe Biden in 2021, making history as the nation's first Black defense secretary.

Lloyd Austin, Defense Secretary

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin risked national security 'unnecessarily,' Inspector General says
Pentagon watchdog finds Lloyd Austin's hospitalization "unnecessarily" increased risks to national security
Defense Secretary Austin’s secrecy around his hospitalizations increased the risks to national security, watchdog says
Watch live: Austin bids farewell to Defense Department
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin will bid farewell in a speech Friday morning, just days before President-elect Trump is set to return to the White House. During his four years helming the Pentagon,
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DOD investigation concludes Austin is responsible for failure to notify Congress, White House of his cancer diagnosis as required
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin is responsible for the Pentagon neglecting to tell Congress and the White House that the former Army general was incapacitated last year due to treatment for prostate cancer as his office is required to do.
Austin transferred power after taking meds that could affect cognitive function
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin was hospitalized in 2024 and given medication that could affect his cognitive functions before he transferred his authority.
Austin failed to tell Congress or the White House about his health problems as required, report says
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin’s failure to inform Congress or the White House as required when he was incapacitated due to treatment for prostate cancer and later complications potentially raised “unnecessary” security risks.
Defense Secretary Austin bids farewell, reflects on term marked by crises and change
WASHINGTON (AP) — Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin bid farewell Friday to the forces and personnel he has led through a tumultuous term that had three major military crises, a global pandemic and a personal brush with cancer that became a flashpoint for the way it was mishandled.
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Lloyd Austin's Command Legacy: Triumphs, Trials, and Tribulations
Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin concludes a tumultuous tenure marked by military crises, a global pandemic, and a personal health battle. His leadership faced the controversial Afghanistan withdrawal,
Honors held for Lloyd Austin, nation's first Black Secretary of Defense
To much fanfare, the U.S. military bid farewell to the nation's 28th Secretary of Defense. JUST IN — Israeli government approves Gaza ceasefire and hostage release deal. The agreement is to come into effect on Sunday. Follow DW for more.
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Austin tells OMB $926 billion defense budget needed, $55 billion over current plan
Austin recommended that OMB leave Trump’s incoming administration a proposed five-year defense plan that starts with $926.5 billion in fiscal 2026, compared with a projected $876.8 billion. Austin proposes spending of $972.8 billion in fiscal 2027 and more than $1 trillion in fiscal 2028 versus the $913.5 billion OMB projected earlier.
Austin, first Black Defense secretary, ends term marred by Afghanistan but buoyed by Ukraine
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin will bid farewell Friday to the forces and personnel he has led through a tumultuous term that had three major military crises, a global pandemic
Lloyd Austin recommends a $50 billion increase in defense spending
Lloyd Austin's plan includes spending as much as $1 trillion on defense as soon as 2028. Meanwhile, Biden increased the 2025 budget by just 1%.