Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin faced criticism after a report revealed he failed to inform Congress and the White House about his health issues last year. The Pentagon’s inspector general stated he kept his hospitalization under wraps for days, even from President Biden.
Austin’s desire for privacy seemed to influence his staff’s decisions, leading them to avoid pressing him about his health. He even told them, “you’re more than welcome to ask (me) directly,” which likely discouraged further questions.
In December 2023, Austin was diagnosed with prostate cancer and underwent surgery on December 22. However, he did not update Congress or the White House about this treatment. When his condition worsened on January 1, 2024, he was taken by ambulance to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. The report noted that his staff were unaware of how serious his condition was—even when he was moved to the Surgical Intensive Care Unit (SICU) the next day.
This report, released shortly before Austin left office, echoed findings from an internal review conducted shortly after his hospitalization. That review found no wrongdoing among Austin’s aides and stated there was no intention to conceal information.
During his surgery and recovery, Austin delegated authority to Deputy Secretary Kathleen Hicks but did not inform her of the situation or notify the White House. This lack of communication frustrated officials, and Congress demanded an explanation. Austin later acknowledged that he should have handled things differently and apologized for not keeping Biden informed.
After the internal review, the Pentagon recognized the need for better communication strategies. They proposed new guidelines for notifying senior officials during health emergencies. Changes were also made to federal protocols to prevent this kind of mishap in the future.
Source link
USA, Lloyd Austin
