A Congressional coalition of former military pilots has sent a letter to President Biden announcing the resignation of Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, after days of questions surrounding his treatment in the ICU without the White House's knowledge. or demanded immediate dismissal.
“We believe Secretary Austin's blatant violation of the Department's intelligence principles and serious errors in judgment warrant his immediate resignation and the resignation of the personnel involved in covering up his hospitalization. If he does not resign, he should be removed immediately, MACH 1 members wrote to Biden in a letter obtained by FOX News Digital on Tuesday.
The MACH 1 caucus consists of Rep. August Pflueger (R-Texas), Rep. Mike Garcia (R-Calif.), Rep. Jake Elsey (R-Texas), and Rep. Scott Franklin (R-Florida). They are all former military pilots. The caucus was officially announced in February 2022, with the caucus advocating to “educate other members” in Congress on issues related to fighter pilots and military pilots. Stated.
Pflueger, who spearheaded the letter, told Fox News Digital that it was a “total dereliction of duty” for Austin to remain absent from the president's hospital room for days without the president's knowledge.
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Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin (left) and President Biden. (Bloomberg via Getty Images/AP Photo)
“As a former combatant commander, I know how important it is to have a secondary authority in your absence,” Pflueger said. “These contingency plans are a matter of life and death. Secretary Austin woke up and advocated for a weakened military, and now he is using his agency without properly appointing agents or notifying the President of the United States. By resigning from that position, the National Security Council weakened our military from day one.”
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“This is an incredible threat to national security and a complete dereliction of duty. Secretary Austin and the staff involved in covering up the hospitalization should resign or be fired.”
Rep. August Pflueger (R-Texas) holds a press conference after the House Republican Conference at the RNC on Wednesday, January 25, 2023. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc, via Getty Images)
Since last week, when media outlets revealed Mr. Austin's hospitalization on Friday, there have been repeated calls among conservative leaders and members of Congress for Mr. Austin to resign or be fired.quick report Following Biden, top leaders at the National Security Council and the Pentagon, including Austin's deputy, Kathleen Hicks, were kept in the dark about the hospitalization for several days. A Pentagon spokesperson told the media on Monday that Chief of Staff Austin had the flu and it took so long to report his hospitalization to the White House and National Security Council.
On Tuesday, it was revealed that Austin underwent a prostatectomy late last month following a prostate diagnosis and was admitted to the ICU last week after developing a urinary tract infection after surgery.
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“Absence of a key Cabinet member responsible for the national security of the United States without notice of leave, designation of an alternate chain of command, or notification of such absence to relevant members of Congress or the Executive Branch. It is unacceptable and unconscionable. We invite you to lead our men and women in uniform during a period of significant global instability as Ukraine defends itself against Russia and regional conflicts continue in the Middle East. “The failure of an appointee to follow proper procedures is dangerous, reckless, and beyond. He is undergoing surgery,” the MACH 1 caucus wrote in a letter to Biden.
Department of Defense spokesperson Air Force Brig. Gen. Patrick Ryder arrives for a press conference at the Pentagon on Thursday, October 19, 2023, in Washington, DC. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)
“The failure to notify the appropriate officials is an extraordinary breach of protocol and, at best, a dereliction of duty,” the group added.
Earlier this week, FOX News Digital interviewed Andy McCarthy, a former assistant U.S. attorney and FOX News contributor, who said there is a clear chain of command throughout the Pentagon and federal government and that Austin has “undermined the Constitution.” ” he elaborated. “Commitments to civilian control of the military” and the nation's “crisis preparedness” when ICU admissions were hidden from the White House.
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”The Constitution relinquishes all executive power It is appointed by a single official, the president, who becomes the supreme commander of the military. This ensures civilian control of the military. “The U.S. military has no independent constitutional status and is subject to the executive branch and dependent on Congressional legislation for its existence, operations, and armament,” McCarthy said.
Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin speaks during a joint press conference with the Israeli Defense Minister in Tel Aviv, December 18, 2023. (Alberto Pizzoli/AFP via Getty Images)
“Austin's actions were particularly relevant at a time when wars were breaking out in Europe and the Middle East, China was a major threat in the Pacific, and piracy in the Red Sea had paralyzed global commerce, and the American military was not just in the Red Sea. By keeping his incompetence a secret from the White House, he is undermining constitutional commitments to civilian control of the military and undermining U.S. preparedness in a crisis. McCarthy added in comments earlier this week. .
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The MACH 1 caucus is asking Biden to answer a series of questions by January 23, including whether he would make any decisions on important national security decisions. [were] made inside [Austin’s] Details and timeline for communications between Austin and federal leaders to ensure “the military chain of command remains intact in the event of an emergency.”
President Biden speaks with Vice President Kamala Harris (left) and Secretary of State Antony Blinken at the White House dining room on Tuesday, October 10, 2023 in Washington, DC. (Ting Sheng/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
“What specific disciplinary action, if any, will Secretary Austin and his staff face for failing to meet public disclosure standards for government officials who fail to perform their duties?” they asked.
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The Pentagon and White House have pushed back on calls for Austin to resign or be fired, and a White House official told Fox News Digital earlier this week that Biden “continues to have full trust and confidence in Austin.” “I'm doing it,” he said.
The Pentagon announced Monday night that it will review the process by which top leaders are notified of transfers of duties by the defense secretary.
“The Department recognizes the legitimate concerns expressed by the public, Congress, and the press regarding notification schedules and Department of Defense transparency. “I want to reiterate that we are taking appropriate steps. We are taking immediate steps to improve our reporting procedures,” Pentagon spokesman Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder said Tuesday.
The caucus called on Biden to schedule a meeting with lawmakers to further discuss Austin's hospitalization and “violation of protocol.”
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The White House did not respond to a request for comment on the MACH 1 letter Wednesday morning.
