Lawmakers Grill Defense Secretary Austin on Secretive Hospital Visit
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin faced bipartisan criticism during a hearing with the House Armed Services Committee for not promptly informing President Joe Biden and other top U.S. leaders about his hospitalization, including a stay in intensive care in early January. Lawmakers expressed concern over potential confusion or delays in military response during the period when Austin's condition was not disclosed, emphasizing the importance of transparent command and control of the armed forces.
Austin, who underwent surgery for prostate cancer, defended himself against allegations that his actions could have jeopardized national security. He stated that he never instructed anyone to withhold information about his hospitalization and emphasized that command and control authority was maintained by an appropriate authority—Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen Hicks—while he was incapacitated. An internal Pentagon review cleared Austin and his team of wrongdoing, finding no evidence of an attempt to obfuscate the situation.
The hearing, described as contentious and personal, also highlighted the duration Austin and Biden went without communication while Austin was at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. In response to the incident, Austin indicated that a review of the chain of command process was underway to ensure better preparedness for such situations in the future.
Republican lawmakers, led by Committee Chairman Jim Banks, suggested the lapse in communication could have projected an image of weakness to international adversaries like China and Russia. Democrats on the committee, however, accused Republicans of amplifying foreign propaganda narratives. Austin admitted responsibility for the oversight in notifying the White House, Congress, and the American public when his duties were transferred to his deputy.
