The Pentagon will review the process by which the secretary of defense notifies top leaders of job transfers, following a week in which senior officials, the public and the press were kept in the dark about Lloyd Austin's hospitalization and absence from work. .
Jennifer Walsh, Director of Management and Management, issued a review to “identify the relevant facts and circumstances during this period and evaluate the processes and procedures by which the Deputy Secretary of Defense informed the Deputy Secretary of Defense to perform his duties and duties.” I plan to take the lead. Secretary of Defense pursuant to 10 USC § 132(b) and Executive Order 13533,” a Pentagon statement said Monday night.
“The purpose of these reviews is to better understand the facts surrounding these events and recommend an appropriate process moving forward,” the statement said.
Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin remains hospitalized after a mysterious procedure. DOD remains his mother even after release
The Pentagon is facing growing backlash from reporters on Sunday after it failed to announce that Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin was hospitalized. Austin and the Pentagon have come under growing criticism after key leaders were not informed of the secretary's hospitalization last week. (Left: (Photo Credit: Celal Gunes/Anadolu Agency, Getty Images), Right: (Photo Credit: Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images))
According to a memo from Austin's chief of staff, Kelly Magsamen, to Pentagon leadership, the purpose of the review is to ensure clarity and transparency as certain powers are transferred and to ensure that the president, Congress, and the public understand what is appropriate and appropriate. The aim is to notify in a timely manner. The review must be completed within 30 days.
The Pentagon announced Monday that President Biden and senior administration officials were not immediately informed of Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin's hospitalization because his chief of staff was out sick, resulting in the notification process being suspended.
Austin, 70, was admitted to the intensive care unit at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center on January 1 due to severe pain from recent complications. elective medical procedures” Pentagon spokesman Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder said last week.
Biden and the National Security Council were not informed of the hospitalization for several days, and the press and Congress were not informed until Friday.
“What I can tell you is that the chief of staff has had the flu, and that affected the notification schedule,” Ryder said Monday. “We are now reviewing our processes and procedures to see how we can improve them, including, as I said, both the White House and Congressional notifications. The bottom line is that we know We can do better and we can do better. ”
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Friday, April 21, 2023, at the Department of Defense Building in Arlington, Virginia. (Photographer: Tom Brenner/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Magsamen “was not able to notify them before then,” but notified Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks and National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan on Thursday. The National Security Council and Biden were also not informed of Austin's hospitalization until Thursday.
Ryder said he and other spokespeople and defense aides were informed of Austin's hospitalization on January 2, but did not make it public and did not disclose it to military leaders or the National Security Council until days later. He also admitted that he had not told him.
“We apologize and pledge to learn from this experience and do everything in our power to meet the standards you expect from our company.”
Hicks was on a pre-scheduled leave of absence and was not actually at the Pentagon, but took over some of Austin's duties last week, officials told Fox News. The Pentagon said she was not informed at the time that Austin was hospitalized.
Austin was taken to the hospital by ambulance on Jan. 1 and was conscious during the ride, Ryder said Monday.
“The Secretary did participate in the call with the President on New Year's Day,” Ryder said. “Of course, this was before he was admitted to the hospital.”
Ryder said the Jan. 4 attack that killed a militia leader in Baghdad had been pre-approved by Austin and the White House before the secretary was admitted to Walter Reed.
He added that Mr. Austin has no intention of resigning. Senior Pentagon officials have also not been asked to resign.
Ryder said he will review the notification procedures, including whether Austin's front office staff violated any regulations, rules or laws, and will take steps to improve the notification process. However, these staff members were among those who did not disclose the secretary's hospitalization.
The Pentagon's failure to disclose Austin's hospitalization infuriated Congressional leaders and news organizations covering the Pentagon.
“On Tuesday afternoon, I was informed by the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs that the Secretary of Defense was hospitalized,” Rider said. “Although he did not have any additional information to provide, I recognize that I should have tried to learn more and pushed for public recognition sooner.”
In a statement released Saturday night, Austin took responsibility for the notification delay.
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“I am very pleased to be on the mend and look forward to returning to the Department of Defense soon,” he said. “I also understand the media's concerns about transparency and recognize that we could have done a better job of ensuring the public is properly informed. I am committed to doing better. But this is important: This is my medical practice and I take full responsibility for my decisions regarding disclosure. ”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
