Feb. 17, 2022 Defense Secretary Says U.S. Commitment to NATO Defense 'Ironclad' NATO allies are united in opposing Russia's actions along Ukraine’s borders, and Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III emphatically said U.S. commitment to the common defense is ironclad.
Feb. 12, 2022 More U.S. Troops to Deploy to Europe, Guardsmen Reassigned Out of Ukraine Another 3,000 troops from the 82nd Airborne Division will move to Europe in the coming days, and Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III is temporarily repositioning 160 troops training Ukraine's military out of the country.
Jan. 28, 2022 U.S., in Lockstep With NATO Allies, Calls on Putin to Stand Down The United States is in lockstep with NATO allies in calling for Russian President Vladimir Putin to de-escalate his country's situation with Ukraine, U.S. defense leaders said.
Jan. 27, 2022 DOD Places Variety of Troops on 'Prepare to Deploy' Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III placed a range of U.S. military units comprising 8,500 troops on a heightened preparedness to deploy should Russia invade Ukraine, and those units have been named, Pentagon Press Secretary John F. Kirby said.
Sept. 29, 2021 DOD Leaders Address Bagram Departure, Noncombatant Evacuation Operation Timing Following the U.S. departure from Afghanistan, some questioned the handover of Bagram Air Base. Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III said maintaining a presence there would not have helped the U.S. mission during the waning days of the 20-year war.
Sept. 28, 2021 Austin Gives Senate Hard Truths of Lessons From Afghanistan ''We helped build a state, but we could not forge a nation,'' Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III told the Senate Armed Services Committee, encapsulating America's 20-year involvement in Afghanistan.
Sept. 24, 2021 DOD Will Continue to Defend U.S. if Government Shuts Down Congress has until Sept. 30 to pass an appropriations bill before government funding lapses, triggering a partial shutdown.
Sept. 7, 2021 U.S. Military Capabilities, Capacity, Alliance Network Made Kabul Evacuation Possible No other military in the world could do what the U.S. military accomplished in evacuating 124,000 people — Americans, Afghans and third country personnel — from Kabul, a senior defense official said.
Sept. 1, 2021 Austin, Milley Honor Courage, Sacrifice of Afghanistan Veterans Leaders of the Defense Department shared their thoughts regarding America's longest war, which recently ended with the last military aircraft evacuation flying out of Kabul, Afghanistan.
Aug. 25, 2021 Secretary of Defense Mandates COVID-19 Vaccinations for Service Members Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III issued a memorandum directing the secretaries of the military departments to immediately begin full vaccination of all members of the department on active duty or in the Guard or Reserve who aren't yet fully vaccinated against COVID-19.