A CNN report stated that the US Deputy Secretary of Defense did not know that the Minister, Lloyd Austin, had been hospitalized when she assumed some of his duties on January 2.
The report, published on Sunday, citing two unidentified defense officials, added that Deputy Secretary Kathleen Hicks was not notified until two days after Austin was admitted to Walter Reed Military Medical Center on New Year’s Day.
Reuters reported on Saturday that US President Joe Biden learned of the minister’s hospitalization on Thursday evening, according to an American official who requested anonymity. The Department of Defense said in a statement on Sunday that Austin spoke to Biden on Saturday.
Austin (70 years old) was admitted to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center due to what the US Department of Defense (the Pentagon) said were “complications after a recent elective medical procedure,” which the ministry kept secret for five days.
Failure to inform Congress
Senator Roger Wicker, the top Republican on the Senate Armed Services Committee, accused the department of failing to immediately inform Congress of such a matter in accordance with the law.
Austin is immediately next to Biden at the top of the US Army’s chain of command, and his duties require that he be available at any moment to deal with any form of national security crisis.
In a joint statement, House Armed Services Committee Chairman Mike Rogers, Republican and Democrat Adam Smith, said they were “concerned about how revelations about the secretary’s condition were handled.”
The statement added: “There are still several unanswered questions, including details about the surgery and complications, Austin’s current health status, how and when his responsibility was delegated and the reasons for the delay in informing Biden and Congress. Transparency is extremely important. Austin must provide these additional details about his health.” “And the decision-making process that took place last week as soon as possible.”
Republicans on the Armed Services Committees of the House of Representatives and the Senate strongly criticized Austin and the Pentagon over the incident, according to a report by Axios.
A spokesman for the Ministry of Defense announced that Austin is still in the hospital and is “recovering well,” noting that he has resumed his full duties on Friday.
On Saturday, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said in a statement that he bears “full responsibility” for the secrecy surrounding his stay in the hospital for a week, due to a medical condition that has not yet been identified.
Secretary of State, Anthony Blinken, said in a press conference on Sunday that he “did not know about (Austin’s) health problem,” adding that he spoke to him early last week.
It remains unclear to what extent his duties were delegated to his deputy, Kathleen Hicks, or whether Austin was involved in any important decisions during his absence.
The Ministry has not yet explained the reason for Austin’s treatment, and whether he lost consciousness during the past week, nor has it provided details about the possible date of his discharge from the hospital.
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2024-01-08 04:28:23
