Rep. Sherrill Statement on General Austin Waiver

Seal of the United States House of Representatives

January 21, 2021

Washington, DC -- Representative Mikie Sherrill (NJ-11) released the following statement after the House voted to grant General Lloyd Austin a waiver to serve as Secretary of Defense:

"General Austin's nomination to serve as Secretary of Defense is a truly historic choice of an immensely qualified individual. As the first Black Defense Secretary, General Austin's tenure will be a significant step forward, both for our Armed Forces and for our nation. He is a decorated soldier with an incredible depth of experience, and I know he possesses the expertise and integrity to keep our nation secure.

"I believe strongly in the civilian control of the military and that waivers should only be provided in extreme circumstances. An insurrection against our Capitol two weeks ago, a global pandemic, a rapidly changing threat landscape, and four years of chaos at the Pentagon during the Trump administration certainly meet that criteria. I remain deeply concerned that consecutive waivers mark a shift away from civilian control of the military and will turn future votes into mere formalities. I plan to work with my colleagues in Congress to ensure that the need for distance between active military service and service as Secretary is fully understood, and to strengthen the waiver process against possible abuses in the future.

"When President Biden announced General Austin's nomination to lead the Department of the Defense, I said that I wanted to hear directly from him to understand how he would work to uphold civilian control over the military. After several conversations with General Austin, I am confident that he understands how imperative that norm is, and I am confident in his commitment to upholding it.

"I know that General Austin will lead the Defense Department with his characteristic expertise and integrity. I look forward to working with him to provide a strong national defense, expand Picatinny Arsenal's mission, and ensure our service members are safe, ready, and well-equipped in the field."

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