Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin was called to testify before members of Congress to explain his secret hospitalization earlier this month.
Austin and the Pentagon have come under scrutiny for failing to be more transparent about the secretary's hospitalization and communication gap, which left senior administration officials and the White House unaware of his condition or whereabouts for several days. is subject to.
House Armed Services Committee Chairman Mike Rogers (R-Ala.) said in a letter dated Thursday that he spoke with Mr. Austin after news broke that Mr. Austin had been hospitalized due to complications from an elective surgery. Stated.
Defense Division Officer Lloyd Austin is in “good condition,'' approaching two weeks in hospital: Pentagon official
U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin looks on during a joint press conference with Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant at the Israeli Ministry of Defense on December 18, 2023 in Tel Aviv, Israel. He has come under fire for being secretly hospitalized earlier this month. (Reuters/Violeta Santos Moura)
“While you have answered some of my questions, a worrying number of questions have not been addressed,” Rogers wrote. “In particular, I am concerned that you have refused to answer whether you instructed your staff not to inform the President of the United States or anyone else about your hospitalization.”
“Unfortunately, this makes me think that information is being withheld from Congress,” he added.
Austin's office said the Pentagon made a “good faith effort” to respond to the panel while acknowledging that a “30-day internal investigation is underway and that the Pentagon Inspector General is conducting the investigation.” He said he provided three letters to the House Armed Services Committee. My own review. ”
“The department looks forward to continuing to work with the committee to address its legislative needs,” the department said in a statement to Fox News Digital. “As always, we will respond to Congressional requests, including requests for the Secretary's testimony, as appropriate. We have nothing further to offer at this time.”
Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin diagnosed with prostate cancer
Rep. Mike Rogers (R-Ala.) speaks during a House Rules Committee meeting at the U.S. Capitol on July 12, 2022 in Washington, DC. The committee met to discuss the National Defense Authorization Act of 2023, and women's health. The Protection Act, the Ensuring Access to Abortion Act, the Ensuring Access to Abortion Act, and the Active Shooter Beware Act. (Photo by Oliver Contreras/AFP)
Austin's aides asked first responders to remain “quiet” and not use sirens or lights while transporting Austin from his home to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center on New Year's Day, according to a 911 call. A request for testimony was made in response to the report.
Austin effectively returned to duty on January 5 while hospitalized and also authorized airstrikes against the Iranian-backed Houthis in Yemen. He was released on Monday. Despite admitting Walter Reed to the hospital on January 1st, the Pentagon did not notify the public, the press, or Congress until January 5th.
Officials also acknowledged that the White House was not informed of Austin's hospitalization until January 4.
In addition to being subpoenaed to the Capitol, the Pentagon is conducting an internal investigation into the communication breakdown.
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“These are extremely volatile times globally, and our country deserves trusted leadership from the Department,” Rogers wrote. “To maintain a force that is as responsive and lethal as possible, everyone in the national security community needs to be able to trust the responsiveness and transparency of the Secretary of Defense.”
“Unfortunately, you have not demonstrated these qualities throughout this series of events,” he added.
