Arlington: President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris took a tour of the African Americans in Service Corridor at the Pentagon, an exhibit honouring Black service members.
The new Defense Secretary, Austin, is the first African American Pentagon chief.
"Right now, more than 40 per cent of our active-duty forces are people of colour," said Biden.
"And it's long past time that the full diversity and full strength of our forces (be) reflected at every level in this department, including our Secretary of Defense."
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Biden also spoke about the Executive order he signed shortly after taking office, reversing a Trump-era Pentagon policy that largely barred transgender individuals from serving in the military.
The new order, which Biden signed in the Oval Office during a meeting with Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, overturns a ban ordered by President Donald Trump in a tweet during his first year in office.
It immediately prohibits any service member from being forced out of the military based on gender identity.
"Every single person, no matter their gender identity, sexual orientation, race or religious background, deserves to feel safe in the ranks and to have their contributions valued. It's on all of us to stand up, to speak out when you see someone being abused," said Biden
"This is an organization that has defined America and should be defeated in American enemies on land, sea and air and been defined by the way we treat others. So I know this is not beyond us, not if each of us makes this a priority as well."
AP
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