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Concerns addressed: Biden’s defense and state department nominees appear poised to clear Senate hurdles

By Jamie McIntyre
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Concerns addressed: Biden’s defense and state department nominees appear poised to clear Senate hurdles

BLINKEN, AUSTIN ON TRACK: While no Senate vote is yet scheduled for Lloyd Austin, President-elect Joe Biden’s pick for defense secretary, or for Antony Blinken, his nominee to lead the State Department, both men seemed to assuage the concerns of senators at their respective hearings yesterday, and appear on a smooth path to confirmation.

Austin’s main hurdle was convincing skeptical senators that even though he doesn’t meet the requirement to be out of uniform for seven years to lead the Pentagon, he is capable of adopting a civilian mindset.

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