Even «Number 2» was informed only four days after his boss’s arrival.
He isSecretary of Defense Lloyd Austin He had been hospitalized for several days this Sunday as details emerged about senior officials, including the president Joe Biden, who were not informed for days that the Head of the Pentagon He was hospitalized in the intensive care unit of Walter Reed Army Military Medical Center.
The Pentagon’s failure to report Austin’s hospitalization reflects a shocking lack of transparency about his illness, its severity and when he may be discharged. So much discretion, at a time when United States of America faces a series of national security crises, goes against standard practice toward the president and other senior officials and Cabinet members.
THE Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks It was not reported until Thursday that Austin had been hospitalized since Jan. 1, a senior defense official said. Once notified, Hicks began preparing communications to send to Congress and I made plans to return to Washington, the official informed.
Hicks was on vacation at Puerto Rico, But he had means of communication to stay in touch and had already been assigned secretarial-level duties on Tuesday.
The Pentagon did not say whether it was explained to Hicks on Tuesday why he would take over some of Austin’s responsibilities, but temporary transfers of authority are nothing new and the official noted that it is not unusual for them to occur without a detailed explanation. Hicks decided not to return afterward He was informed that Austin would regain full control on Friday. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to provide details on the transfer of power.
Biden also was not informed of Austin’s hospitalization until Thursday, when he was briefed by the national security adviser, Jake Sullivan This was reported by three people familiar with the hospitalization who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the matter publicly.
Austin took responsibility for the delays in a statement released Saturday.
«I recognize that I could have done a better job ensuring the public was adequately informed. I am committed to doing better,» Austin said, admitting concerns about transparency. “But it’s important to say: This was my medical procedure and I take full responsibility for my decisions regarding its disclosure.”
Austin, 70, remained hospitalized due to complications that follow after a selective medical procedure, his press secretary said as it became increasingly clear how the Pentagon was withholding information about his time at Walter Reed. In his statement, Austin said he is recovering satisfactorily and wishes to return to the Pentagon soon, but offered no further details about his illness.
He Senator Roger Wicker, the highest-ranking Republican in the Senate Armed Services Committee, He said the episode undermines confidence in the federal government and called on the department to «immediately provide a full accounting of the facts» to lawmakers.
«I am happy to hear that Secretary Austin’s condition has improved and wish him a speedy recovery. However, this does not change the fact that the Department of Defense deliberately withheld information about the Secretary of Defense’s medical condition for several days. «This is unacceptable,» Wicker said this in a statement.
