The Pentagon came under a barrage of criticism Monday after releasing an internal investigation into Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin’s failure to notify the president last month that he was hospitalized due to complications from prostate cancer surgery. exposed.
The investigation, conducted by Austin’s subordinates, largely cleared him of any wrongdoing for confidentiality regarding his hospitalization, which included several days in intensive care. The review flatly stated that there were “no signs of malicious intent or attempts at obfuscation.”
At a news conference Monday, Pentagon spokesman Maj. Gen. Patrick Rider fielded multiple questions from reporters seeking answers about perceived gaps in the review.
File: Aerial view of the Pentagon in Washington. (AP Photo/Charles Darapak)
Rider said Defense Secretary Austin’s staff decided to transfer authority to Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks on January 2 because Austin was in the ICU. He said his secretary never lost consciousness, but it remains unclear why his secretary made such a call.
Hicks, who was vacationing in Puerto Rico, didn’t learn about Austin’s hospitalization until three days later, when he was transferred to the intensive care unit at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center.
Asked by Fox News’ Jennifer Griffin why he wasn’t told it would be a good idea for Hicks to return to D.C., Ryder said the Austin staff was facing an “unprecedented situation.” Ta.
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“So, they implemented the delegation in the same way they had done before,” Rider said, noting that national HIPAA laws that protect individuals’ medical records and other personally identifiable health information allow health care providers to be candid. It added that they are being prevented from sharing information with health care providers. A member of the secretarial staff spoke about Austin’s condition.
”[Austin’s staff] They were reluctant to pry or share fluid information,” Ryder said, insisting there was never a gap in command and control.
Several reporters complained that the internal investigation did not provide enough new information that was not already known and that some questions remained unanswered.
Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin speaks during a meeting with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg at the Pentagon on Monday, January 29, 2024 in Washington. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)
“There are still questions about the timeline. With all due respect, we’re not answering any of them this time,” one reporter said. “The obvious question that remains is where was the vulnerability here?” “Is it true?” he added.
The 30-day review of leadership failures says the defense secretary needs to improve procedures and better share information when transferring decision-making authority to the secretary of defense.
Mr. Austin is scheduled to appear before members of Congress for a hearing on the issue on Thursday, where he is expected to face harsh criticism. The Pentagon’s inspector general is also conducting a review, but it has not yet been completed.
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Austin was diagnosed with prostate cancer in early December and went to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center for surgery on December 22nd. On January 1, after he felt severe pain, he was taken by ambulance back to Walter Reed and transferred to the intensive care unit. unit the next day.
During the initial surgery and intensive care, he again transferred decision-making authority to Deputy Secretary Kathleen Hicks, without telling her why or informing the White House.
File: Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin issues a joint statement with Israeli Defense Minister Job Gallant after talks regarding Israel’s military operations in Gaza, Dec. 18, 2023, in Tel Aviv, Israel. (AP Photo/Maya Areruzzo/File)
Pentagon officials said their public affairs staff and defense advisers were informed of Austin’s hospitalization on Jan. 2, but did not make it public until Jan. 4, when military leaders and national He also admitted that he did not inform the Security Council. Joe Biden will find out. It took another four days before the reason for his hospitalization became clear.
The 30-day review ended on February 8th and was submitted to Austin, but only a portion was made public. The Pentagon insisted that parts of the report were classified.
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In a press conference after his return, Austin told reporters he never instructed his staff to keep his surgery and hospitalization a secret from the White House, but acknowledged he should have done things differently. He apologized for detaining Biden and others. It’s been dark for weeks. He denied there was a culture of secrecy in his office and said staff may have perceived that “they were looking out for my best interests.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
