The Pentagon on Monday released the findings of a 30-day investigation that found there was no attempt to cover up Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin’s secret hospitalization in December and January, effectively exonerating officials of any wrongdoing.
A summary of the unclassified review found room for improvement in the process, but found there was “no sign of bad faith or attempt to obfuscate” the transfer of authority during Austin’s hospital stay, the document said. There wasn’t.”
The remainder of the investigation was conducted by Department of Defense (DOD) officials and is classified.
The three-page summary states that Austin’s staff is in compliance with medical privacy laws and in several “significant ways” that staff members are “reluctant to snoop on or share information they learn” for privacy reasons. They claim that they failed to share information.
The report also claims that because Austin’s medical situation remains in flux, “timely and secure communications could not be guaranteed.”
Austin was admitted to the hospital on January 1st and stayed for two weeks to be treated for an infection caused by surgery to treat prostate cancer in December. However, even though Austin handed over her duties as Secretary of Defense to her on January 2, she did not have until January 4 to discuss her situation with the White House or her deputy Kathleen Hicks. I didn’t inform you.
Meanwhile, Congress and the public did not know that Mr. Austin had been hospitalized until January 5, drawing harsh criticism from lawmakers and the press.
Mr. Austin also did not tell the White House or other Pentagon officials that he had been diagnosed with cancer in early December.
In response to the incident, Austin’s chief of staff, Kelly Magsamen, asked the Department of Defense’s director of administrative management for 30 days to determine whether the agency followed delegation of authority policies and procedures when Austin entered the hospital. ordered an internal investigation to be carried out, the findings of which were released on Monday.
“However, hindsight has shown that the process by which decisions are made to transfer the Secretary’s powers can and should be improved… There was no indication of any attempt at obfuscation or obfuscation,” the review states.
The Pentagon’s inspector general has also launched a review of the situation.
After reviewing the report, Austin directed that its recommendations be implemented, according to a memo released with the unclassified summary. Recommendations include improved information sharing and new guidelines to ensure that acting commissioners are prepared to step into their roles quickly if a transfer of authority is needed.
Earlier this month, the Pentagon chief also apologized for the information gap.
“Let me be clear: We did not handle this right. I did not handle this right. I should have told the president about the cancer diagnosis,” Austin said on February 1. He spoke at a press conference on the day. “I should have told my team and the American people, and I take full responsibility. I apologize to my teammates and the American people.”
Mr. Austin is scheduled to testify before the House Armed Services Committee on Thursday about what happened before and after his hospitalization.
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