December 8, 2020
2 mins read

Biden picks retd Gen. Lloyd Austin as head of Pentagon

A formal announcement is expected soon as the President-elect’s transition team said earlier that additional nominations of the new cabinet, including the post of the Secretary of Defence, will be made before Christmas…reports Asian Lite News

US President-elect Joe Biden has chosen retired General Lloyd Austin, a former commander of the US Central Command, to head the Pentagon, according to a media report.

If confirmed by the Senate, Austin, a retired four-star general of the US Army, would be the first black man to lead the Department of Defence, Xinhua news agency quoted the Politico news report as saying on Monday.

A formal announcement is expected soon as the President-elect’s transition team said earlier that additional nominations of the new cabinet, including the post of the Secretary of Defence, will be made before Christmas.

Also on Monday Biden, announced some nominations and appointments of his health team.

In a statement on Monday, the President-elect said he was nominating Xavier Becerra, Attorney General of California, as the Secretary of Health and Human Hervices.

If confirmed, Becerra, a former US Congressman from California, will be the first Latino to lead the Department of Health and Human Services, which will oversee the distribution of Covid-19 vaccines in the coming months.


Meanwhile, Indian-American Vivek Murthy has been tapped to serve as US Surgeon General, a post the research scientist held between 2014 and 2017, and Rochelle Walensky, chief of infectious diseases at Massachusetts General Hospital and a professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School, will lead the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The President-elect also said he has appointed Marcella Nunez-Smith, an expert on health care disparities, to serve as the Covid-19 equity task force chair, while naming Jeff Zients, former director of the National Economic Council, coordinator of the Covid-19 response and a presidential counselor.

Anthony Fauci, America’s top expert on infectious diseases and an adviser to six US Presidents, will serve as chief medical adviser on Covid-19 to Biden and continue in his role as director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.

According to US media projections, Biden has won 306 electoral votes in the November 3 presidential election, surpassing the 270-vote threshold for clinching the presidency.

Biden has declared victory and announced the first tranche of his Cabinet nominees, including national security and foreign policy officials.

The General Services Administration has initiated Biden’s formal transition into the White House, but President Donald Trump, despite having directed his administration to facilitate the process, has vowed to continue the legal fight to challenge the election results.

Also read:Mexico seeks extradition of US ex-Minister

Previous Story

B’wood Stars On ‘Freezing Himachal’ Shoot

Next Story

Pics: Dharmendra @ 85

Latest from -Top News

Afghan-Pak tensions threaten South Asian stability

The Afghanistan-Pakistan fighting has impacted civilians on both sides, with people fleeing the border areas while daily movement and trade has been disrupted…reports Asian Lite News The recent tensions between Afghanistan and

Fourth AUSTRAHIND exercise begins in Australia

Primary focus of this year’s exercise is “joint company level counter-terrorism operations in urban terrain and semi urban terrain…reports Asian Lite News The fourth edition of the India-Australia joint military exercise, AUSTRAHIND,

Sanae Takaichi makes history in Japan

From 2022 to 2024, Takaichi was Japan’s Economic Security Minister. She also holds the record as the longest-serving Minister for Internal Affairs…reports Asian Lite News Sanae Takaichi was elected Japan’s next Prime

Cabinet of Japan PM Ishiba steps down

After the prime ministerial vote, Takaichi will finalise cabinet appointments, and the chief cabinet secretary is scheduled to announce the lineup….reports Asian Lite News Outgoing Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba resigned with
Go toTop