Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin says hospital intensive care unit (ICU) admissions hidden from the White House undermine America's “constitutional commitment to civilian control of the military” and the nation's “crisis preparedness.” “damaged''.
“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. ” said Andy McCarthy, a former assistant U.S. attorney. a Fox News contributor told Fox News Digital on Monday.
Last week, reports spread that Austin was receiving treatment at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland, and that the White House didn't know about it for days, sparking outrage among conservative lawmakers and leaders. exploded. This week, calls for Austin to resign or be fired have been growing over the issue, with lawmakers also demanding answers about an apparent failure of communication within the chain of command.
“Unfortunately, there are now more questions than answers,” Mississippi Republican Sen. Roger Wicker said in a statement last week. “Why was the notification process under 5 U.S.C. 3349 not followed and who made the decision not to follow it? What role did the Secretary of Defense staff play? When was the President notified? Was it done accurately? What was the defense department's justification for withholding information from the Pentagon? The National Security Council? To what extent was the Secretary incapacitated by the surgery?”
Austin's mysterious hospital stay is totally unprecedented and could embolden his enemies: experts
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin remains hospitalized a week after suffering severe pain following elective surgery, the Pentagon announced Monday. (Ian Waldie/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
“The very fact that we don't have any of this information is an indictment of an administration that consistently disrespects Congress's authority on national defense matters,” Wicker added.
Austin, 70, underwent an elective medical procedure at Walter Reed Hospital on Dec. 22 and experienced “severe pain” while at home a few days later, Pentagon spokesman Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder said Sunday. he told FOX News. He was taken to the hospital again on January 1st and was placed in the intensive care unit.
Austin resumed his duties and was transferred from the ICU, but remained at Walter Reed. It was revealed on Tuesday that Austin underwent prostatectomy late last month following a prostate diagnosis and was admitted to the ICU last week after developing a urinary tract infection after the surgery.
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Media learned about the treatment at Austin's hospital on Friday and reported it immediately. Following President 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. Ryder 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.
“Secretary Austin should be fired, but he will not be fired,” McCarthy continued on Fox News Digital.
“The Constitution entrusts all executive power to a single official, the president, and makes the president the supreme commander of the military. This ensures civilian control of the military. The U.S. military has no independent constitutional status. “The U.S. military is not living up to its constitutional status. It is an executive branch, and its existence, operations, and armament are dependent on the laws of Congress,” McCarthy said.
The U.S. military is under civilian control, meaning that ultimate authority for the military rests in the hands of the president, not the military.
Air Force Brigadier General Pat Ryder, Pentagon spokesperson, speaks with reporters at the Pentagon on October 19, 2023, in Arlington, Virginia. (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)
“It is President Biden's duty to direct the executive branch, including the projection of American power, and to preserve and protect the constitutional framework. “Whether we're talking about China's provocations, or the continued Iranian-backed attacks on U.S. forces, Biden has failed to act decisively in promoting U.S. national security. Congress should investigate the Austin incident, but there is no reason to believe Biden will change.”
Defense Secretary Austin resumes duty after being kept in the dark from public appearances and spending several days in intensive care
The Secretary of Defense is sixth in the line of presidential succession, after other U.S. leaders such as the Vice President, Speaker of the House, and Secretary of State.
Fox News Digital also spoke with Robert Greenway, a national security expert and director of the Heritage Foundation's Allison Center for National Security, who said it was unprecedented for Austin to be hospitalized without the president's knowledge. , detailed that there are clear procedures to be followed in the absence of the Secretary of Defense. .
The Pentagon as seen from Air Force One on March 2, 2022. (AP Photo/Patrick Semanski, File)
“The Secretary of Defense has a number of different legal roles unique to his position, not the least of which is his role in the direct military chain of command, which impacts the operation of our nation's nuclear deterrent.” “And it affects the application of U.S. nuclear deterrence,” Greenway said Monday morning. “And in times of crisis, of course, as you know, we often don't have time. He alone is authorized by the direction of the president.” All persons exercising responsibility in the chain of command must either be present for the task or have someone authorized to do so perform the task. ”
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“Although the list of individuals who can perform the duties of the Secretary of Defense in his absence is small, there are clear procedures to be followed. It is certainly unclear whether such steps have been taken. In fact, it has been reported that “The evidence shows that there may have been days when no one was performing the duties of Secretary of Defense in his statements to the public,” he continued.
President Biden answers questions during a press conference in the East Room of the White House on June 8, 2023. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images)
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.
Director of Management and Management Jennifer Walsh said the review will “identify the relevant facts and circumstances during this period and assess the processes and procedures by which the Deputy Secretary of Defense was informed to perform the duties and duties of the Deputy Secretary of Defense.” is scheduled to lead. Secretary of Defense pursuant to 10 USC § 132(b) and Executive Order 13533,” a Pentagon statement said Monday afternoon.
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“The purpose of these reviews is to better understand the facts surrounding these events and recommend an appropriate process moving forward,” the statement said.
Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin speaks during a press conference at the Pentagon on March 15, 2023. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)
Greenway noted that it was unclear who even authorized the Jan. 4 military attack on Baghdad amid the initial chaos, adding that at the time of the attack there was “reason to doubt whether civilians were in control of the military.” ” was claimed to have occurred. .
The Pentagon later announced that Austin and the White House had pre-approved the attack on Iraq before the secretary was hospitalized. But the latest strike further highlights the initial confusion caused by the cover-up of treatment at Austin's hospital.
Pentagon deputy commander announces Austin hospitalized two days after taking over part of mission
Greenway argued that America's adversaries likely see the quiet hospitalization as an opportunity to “lash out.”
Chinese President Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. (Per-Anders Pettersson/Getty Images | Contributor/Getty Images | Scott Peterson/Getty Images)
“Putin, Xi, Khamenei in Tehran, Hezbollah, all of our adversaries are now looking at this situation with the same disbelief that we are, and they are already aware of their perceived weakness against the United States. “I think they're deciding that they have an opportunity because of the fact that some… lashing out. I think this increases the potential for mischief internationally. There is no need for the U.S. to physically take action.” Because they see an administration that is unprepared and unable to decide who is in charge as unprepared to take action,” Greenway said.
“This was not only done at a time when we are under threat across multiple theaters, but…the reason we are in this situation is because we have the wrong policies, personnel, and practices. You could also argue that it's because they had a I think the world is the way it is because it's not clear what it is,” Greenway added.
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Amid growing calls for Austin to resign or be fired, the White House and Pentagon have said they have no plans to replace him. A White House official told Fox News Digital on Monday that President Biden “continues to have full trust and confidence in the secretary.”
Louis Casiano of Fox News Digital contributed to this report.
