Biden Defense secretary argues women, racial diversity 'make us stronger' as Trump admin looms

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin defended his efforts to grow diverseness successful the subject during a wide-ranging interrogation connected Wednesday.

Austin affirmed to NBC News his content that having women and accrued diverseness successful the U.S. military "makes america stronger." 

"I person spent 41 years successful uniform, 3 agelong tours successful Iraq, 1 successful Afghanistan, and everyplace I went connected a battlefield, determination were women successful our formation," Austin told NBC. "I would archer you that, you know, our women are the finest troops successful the world. Quite frankly, immoderate of the finest successful the world."

"They bash interaction readiness. They marque america better. They marque america stronger. And again, what I've seen from our women is rather incredible, and I'm not — this is not hyperbole. This is fact," Austin said.

MILITARY SUICIDES WERE ON THE RISE LAST YEAR, DESPITE A MASSIVE INVESTMENT IN PREVENTION PROGRAMS

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin defended his prioritization of diverseness during his enactment astatine the Pentagon. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

"We're a divers nation, and we're going to stay a divers nation. Our subject is going to stay a divers military," Austin argued.

TRUMP NOMINATES PETE HEGSETH TO SERVE AS DEFENSE SECRETARY

The interrogation comes astir a week aft President-elect Donald Trump nominated seasoned and erstwhile Fox News big Pete Hegseth to beryllium Austin's successor. Austin did not notation Hegseth straight successful his comments, but the interrogation comes days aft clips resurfaced of Hegseth arguing against utilizing women successful combat roles. He has besides been vocally opposed to prioritizing diverseness implicit effectiveness successful the military.

Meanwhile, officials astatine the Pentagon are bracing for sweeping argumentation changes nether the incoming Trump administration, and immoderate high-level officers could find their careers connected the chopping block. 

President-elect Donald Trump's medication is expected to basal retired DEI programs successful the government. (Allison Robbert-Pool/Getty Images)

The Trump medication is expected to bash distant with diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs crossed the government, including successful the military.

"If you privation to person a enactment alteration oregon a societal justness seminar, past you tin bash it determination else, but you’re not going to bash it successful the Army, Navy, Coast Guard, Air Force, Space Force oregon the United States Marines. Sorry," Trump said astatine an Aug. 21 rally successful Asheboro, North Carolina. 

Many astatine the Pentagon could look firing nether President-elect Donald Trump's incoming administration. (DANIEL SLIM/AFP via Getty Images)

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"The subject brass that led these absurd and insulting initiatives volition likewise beryllium removed, and they volition nary longer beryllium successful command. They’re going to beryllium gone. Gone truthful fast," helium added.

Fox News' Morgan Phillips contributed to this report.