The Pentagon has faced growing backlash from members of the media, including for not immediately announcing that Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin was hospitalized on New Year's Day.
Several reporters were furious that the Pentagon did not disclose the fact that Mr. Austin had been hospitalized until Friday, January 5th. Gen. Pat Ryder said Friday.
CNN Pentagon correspondent Oren Lieberman said the delay was “unacceptable” given the national security position. Ryder said the news was not released to the press due to “medical and personal privacy issues.”
“This is an administration that has talked a lot about transparency, but it has failed this test,” Lieberman wrote.
According to reports, neither the National Security Council nor President Biden knew that Austin had been hospitalized for several days.
The Pentagon is facing growing backlash from reporters on Sunday after it failed to announce that Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin was hospitalized. (Left: (Photo Credit: Celal Gunes/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images), Right: (Photo Credit: Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images))
Defense Secretary Austin hospitalized due to surgical complications
Former CNN Pentagon correspondent Barbara Starr called the lack of disclosure a “huge strategic failure.”
“As of tonight, I see no path forward in trusting the Pentagon to be telling the truth about anything,” she wrote to X.
Courtney Kube, an NBC News correspondent who covers the Department of Defense and national security, agreed, saying it “undermines the credibility of the Department of Defense's public affairs.”
Austin was admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) for several days and is now recovering. He resumed his full duties on Saturday.
Department of Defense spokesperson Air Force Brig. On Thursday, October 19, 2023, General Patrick Ryder arrives at the Pentagon in Washington for a press conference. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)
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CNN's Haley Britsky responded to the news that the Pentagon did not notify the NSC until Thursday, three days after the initial hospitalization, saying, “This is so unreasonable.”
Britsky also noted that the Pentagon held a press conference on Thursday but did not reveal it to reporters during the briefing.
Austin issued a statement Saturday, citing concerns about “transparency.”
“I am very pleased to be on the mend and look forward to returning to the Department of Defense soon,” he said. “I also understand the media's concerns about transparency and recognize that we could have done a better job of ensuring the public is properly informed. I am committed to doing better. But this is important: This is my medical practice, and I take full responsibility for my decisions regarding disclosure. ”
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin speaks at a press conference at the Queensland State Building during the Australia-US Ministerial Consultations (AUSMIN) held in Brisbane, Australia, Saturday, July 29, 2023. (Ian Waldie/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
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The Pentagon Press Association sent a letter to the Pentagon's press team on Saturday.
The Press Association had “grave concerns” that the Pentagon did not notify members of the media about Austin's hospitalization until several days later.
“The fact that he has been hospitalized for four days at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center and that the Department of Defense is only alerting the public late Friday night is outrageous,” the letter said. It's dark.
“This is far below the standard disclosure standards used by other federal departments when a senior official undergoes medical treatment or becomes temporarily incapacitated.”
Politico's Kevin Barron called it “astounding news,” adding, “I've never heard of a top Pentagon leader disappearing into a hospital for a week like this with no public information.” he added.
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Others questioned the move as well, including Victoria Coates, deputy director of the Heritage Foundation's Katherine and Shelby Cullom Davis National Security and Foreign Policy Institute, who said the “acting” secretary was “on leave.” remains in Puerto Rico,” wrote X.
Fox News Digital has reached out to the Department of Defense for further comment.
