(CNN) -
The US Senate voted on an overwhelmingly bipartisan basis to confirm President Joe Biden's Secretary of Defense, Retired General Lloyd Austin.
The vote was 93-2.
Austin, who retired in 2016, will be the first black man to lead the Department.
He had to receive an exemption from a law that requires a defense secretary to wait seven years after active duty before accepting the position.
The House approved the waiver on Thursday afternoon, followed by approval of the measure by the Senate that same day.
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The defense secretary's confirmation gives Biden another key department head in his cabinet.
The Senate confirmed Biden's first cabinet nominee Wednesday night, approving the director of national intelligence, Avril Haines, to take office.
“It is an honor and a privilege to serve as our country's 28th Secretary of Defense and I am especially proud to be the first black person to hold the position.
Let's get to work, ”Austin tweeted.
It's an honor and a privilege to serve as our country's 28th Secretary of Defense, and I'm especially proud to be the first African American to hold the position.
Let's get to work.
pic.twitter.com/qPAzVRxz9L
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- Lloyd Austin (@LloydAustin) January 22, 2021
Lloyd Austin
