On Friday, news broke that US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin has been hospitalized since January 1st. The press kept Austin's hospitalization a secret, and it is now reported that President Joe Biden was also unaware of this concerning medical condition. One prominent Republican described the incident as a “shocking collapse.”
Alarming new details about Austin's sudden hospitalization emerged on Saturday.
The Pentagon did not notify President Biden or other senior administration officials, including National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, of Austin's three-day hospitalization, three U.S. officials said. It has been reported. politiko.
Austin was admitted to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center on Monday night due to “complications from a recent elective medical procedure.” Pentagon officials have not disclosed what kind of surgery Austin underwent, what his complications were, or how serious his medical condition was.
Immediately after the Pentagon's announcement on Thursday, Sullivan reportedly spoke to Biden about the situation in Austin.
White House officials said. USA Today Biden and Austin reportedly met on Saturday night.
The official said, “It was a warm conversation.'' “The President has full confidence in Secretary Austin and looks forward to his return to the Department of Defense.”
Austin spent four days in intensive care, two senior government officials said. NBC News.
While Austin was hospitalized, some of his duties were assumed by Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks.
But defense officials said Hicks was on a scheduled vacation in Puerto Rico at the time.
The official said Hicks “has consistently maintained good communication with Department of Defense personnel” and that “she has overseen the day-to-day operations of the Department of Defense and conducted some day-to-day operations.” added.
The shocking lack of communication has been condemned by media outlets and government officials.
The Pentagon Press Association called the lack of transparency an “outrage.”
“The fact that he has been hospitalized for four days at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center and that the Pentagon is only alerting the public late Friday night is outrageous,” the Pentagon Press Association said Friday. ”. “The public has a right to know when U.S. ministers are hospitalized, given anesthesia, or delegated duties as a result of medical procedures.”
Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said: statement On Saturday, it declared the situation a “shocking collapse.”
“Secretary Austin must immediately address disturbing reports that the Department of Defense did not immediately notify President Biden and the National Security Council that he was hospitalized and unable to perform his duties,” Cotton declared. did. “The Secretary of Defense is a critical link in the chain of command between the president and the uniformed military, including the nuclear chain of command, when the most important decisions must be made within minutes.”
“If this report is true, this shocking failure must have had some effect,” Cotton concluded.
Former Sen. Chuck Hagel, who served as Secretary of Defense in the Obama administration, agreed: “The NSC is part of the team, part of the family. The president has to know where his Cabinet members are at all times.” did. ”
“This should not have happened,” an anonymous U.S. official told Politico.
Pentagon spokesman Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder said the hospitalization was not disclosed to the media, citing “medical and personal privacy concerns.”
On Saturday, Austin addressed the backlash for keeping his hospitalization a secret.
“I am very happy to be on the mend and look forward to returning to the Department of Defense soon,” Austin began.
“We understand the media's concerns about transparency and recognize that we could have ensured that the public was properly informed,” he continued. “I promise to do better. But this is important. This is my medical procedure, and I take full responsibility for my disclosure decisions.”
The NSC and the Pentagon declined to comment on the situation.
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