US President-elect Joe Biden is considering retired four-star General Lloyd Austin as his nominee for defense secretary, adding him to a shortlist that includes Jeh Johnson, Tammy Duckworth, and Michele Flournoy, two sources with direct knowledge of the decision-making tell Axios, the latter reported.

Flournoy had been widely seen as the likely pick, but Axios is told other factors—race, experience, Biden's comfort level—have come into play.

If appointed, Austin would be the first Black secretary of defense in American history.