Top GOP rep ‘quickly losing faith’ in Austin’s ability to lead Pentagon

House Armed Services Committee Chairman Mike Rogers (R-Ala.) expressed late Monday that he is fed up with Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin's leadership after a recent hospital visit was not made public for four days. .

“I am rapidly losing faith in Austinsek's leadership.” [the Pentagon] In these turbulent times.” Rogers wrote Monday evening. From the Military Republican Party account on Platform X, formerly known as Twitter.

“Secretary Austin and his team's decision to withhold critical information from the President and Congress must be addressed,” he added. “We need to hear from Secretary Austin and the Department of Defense about this lack of transparency.”

Austin was admitted to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center outside Washington, D.C., on January 1 and remained hospitalized as of Sunday night. He had previously visited the hospital for an elective surgery on December 22nd, but he came back with complications.

The public was not informed of his hospitalization until Friday night, an unusually late announcement for a senior official currently overseeing two major wars, The Hill previously reported.

Congress was not notified until shortly before the Pentagon's statement to the nation, and President Biden reportedly learned of his hospitalization three days later.

“We could have done a better job of making sure the public was properly informed,” Austin said in a statement Saturday.

A Pentagon spokesperson said in a statement Friday that the deputy secretary of defense stands ready to exercise authority on behalf of Mr. Austin if necessary.

Still, concerns have been raised about the lack of transparency surrounding Austin's hospitalization, and criticism of Capitol Hill has grown.

The Pentagon Press Association also sent a letter expressing outrage at the lack of information.

The memo said that at a time when threats to U.S. military personnel are increasing and the U.S. is playing a major role in both the Russia-Ukraine war and the Israel-Hamas war, “it is especially important to keep the American public informed.” There is,” he said. his health and decision-making ability;

Mr. Rogers and Rep. Adam Smith (D-Wash.), ranking member of the House Armed Services Committee, said Monday they were “concerned about how the disclosure of the secretary's condition will be handled.”

“Transparency is very important,” the joint statement said, adding that many questions remain and that Mr. Austin has mostly provided additional details about his health and the decision-making process regarding the notification delay. added.

In a statement, Austin emphasized that he would work to improve communication, but said: “This is my medical practice and I take full responsibility for decisions regarding disclosure.”