US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin Hospitalized and Cancer Diagnosis Delayed, White House Not Informed

WASHINGTON DC, KOMPAS.com – For several days, no one knew the whereabouts of the United States (US) Minister of Defense, Lloyd Austin.

The White House did not know the whereabouts of the 80-year-old official for three days.

US President Joe Biden and Deputy US Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks did not know about Austin.

Also read: US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin Hospitalized for Complications

The US Department of Defense or Pentagon finally informed on Monday (8/1/2024) that Austin disappeared due to illness and was being treated in hospital.

Meanwhile, the White House on Tuesday (9/1/2024) said that US President Joe Biden was not informed for about a month that Defense Minister Lloyd Austin had prostate cancer.

US National Security Council spokesman John Kirby acknowledged that delaying the report was a mistake.

“The president was briefed by the chief of staff this morning,” Kirby said in a briefing, quoted by AFP.

The Pentagon said Tuesday morning that Defense Secretary Austin was diagnosed in early December and underwent surgery on December 22, before being hospitalized for complications on January 1.

The White House was not notified that Austin was in the hospital until January 4, at a time of high tensions in the Middle East and Ukraine.

The White House has insisted that Biden, who is seeking a second term in November’s election, remained in control of his administration despite not knowing as of Tuesday about the cancer diagnosis.

Also read: US Defense Secretary: China and Russia Help North Korea, UN Member States are Concerned

“It’s not optimal for a situation like this to play out without the commander in chief knowing about it or the national security advisor knowing about it, or frankly other leaders at the Department of Defense,” Kirby said in a White House briefing.

“This should not have happened… This is not good. We want to make sure this doesn’t happen again,” he explained.

During that period, Biden is recorded as having ordered a series of military actions, including attacks on Iraqi militia leaders.

Meanwhile US troops managed to shoot down a missile fired by the Yemeni Houthi group in the Red Sea.

“He has completely overcome this problem,” Kirby said.

Kirby emphasized that President Biden has “full confidence” in Austin and looks forward to his return to the Pentagon.

According to a circulating memo, White House chief of staff Jeff Zients on Tuesday morning ordered an urgent review later that day of the rules for when senior US officials are incapacitated from carrying out their duties.

Also read: US Defense Minister Meets Prabowo, This is the Agreement Reached

“There is an expectation that if a cabinet official is hospitalized, and for any reason is unable to continue carrying out his or her duties even temporarily, that will be notified up the chain of command to the commander in chief,” Kirby added.

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2024-01-10 02:42:00
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