During his time Austin oversaw the chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan, led the more than 50-nation coalition supporting Ukraine in its war with Russia, and directed the most intense naval combat operation since World War II in the Red Sea, following the Hamas attack upon Israel.

Defense Secretary Austin will bid farewell Friday following a term that included three major military crises, a global pandemic and a brush with cancer.

The United States will provide Ukraine with an additional $500 million in weapons and equipment in what’s expected to be the final military aid package under the outgoing Biden administration.

Outgoing US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin proposes increasing defence spending by $50 billion for 2026, potentially pushing the budget beyond $1 trillion by 2030. The increase seeks to meet ...