Deputy unaware of Defense Secretary’s hospitalization for days: Report

Deputy Kept in the Dark About Defense Secretary’s Hospitalization

The deputy who‌ assumed some of Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin‘s duties last week was left unaware of the Cabinet official’s hospitalization ​for​ several days, according ⁤to a new report.

Defense officials informed CNN that Deputy Secretary Kathleen Hicks and other top ⁢brass were not informed about Austin’s situation until Thursday, three days after he was admitted to Walter‍ Reed National Military Medical Center.

The Department of Defense (DoD) stated that Hicks took on “certain operational responsibilities that require constant secure communications capabilities” on Tuesday. Despite being on vacation in Puerto Rico, Hicks had planned to return to Washington, D.C., on Friday. However, she decided to stay put as Austin was expected to ⁢resume his duties from the hospital.

Pentagon Press Secretary ‍Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder explained that ​it is not uncommon for the defense secretary to delegate certain responsibilities without explanation. Hicks made routine operational and management decisions during this time. ​Ryder also emphasized that Austin has no plans to resign.

The DoD surprised the Pentagon press corps, lawmakers, and even reportedly White House officials on Thursday when it announced that Austin had been hospitalized on Monday evening⁤ due to complications following a recent ⁣elective medical procedure. According to the statement,​ Austin was recovering well and expected to resume his full duties.

NBC News revealed that Austin ‌spent four days in the intensive care⁣ unit, while POLITICO reported that Gen. C.Q. Brown, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, was informed about Austin’s situation‌ on Tuesday. Acting Defense​ Undersecretary‍ for Policy Sasha Baker attended a White House meeting in Austin’s place without knowledge⁤ of his hospitalization.

A White House official told Reuters that​ President Joe Biden has full confidence in Austin and is looking ⁣forward to his return to the Pentagon. However, ‌a U.S. official told ABC News that Biden was exasperated⁣ by the lack of transparency and that there would be a review ​of the episode.

While Ryder mentioned that there were multiple factors to consider, such as medical and ​privacy issues, members of the media and Congress expressed outrage and demanded more information.

The board of directors of the Pentagon Press Association sent a letter to DoD public affairs officials, calling⁤ the late notice an “outrage” and requesting a meeting to address the ⁢troubling situation. They also stated that Austin has no claim to privacy in this situation.

Sen. Roger Wicker ​(R-MS), ranking member of the Senate Armed‌ Services Committee, released a statement that said the Department of Defense deliberately withheld the Secretary of Defense’s medical condition for days, which he deemed unacceptable.

The DoD ⁣released a statement from the defense secretary on Saturday, sharing that he was recovering ​and expressing regret for how the situation was handled.

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“I want ⁤to thank the amazing doctors and nursing staff ⁣at Walter Reed‌ for the exceptional care they have delivered to me and for the personal warmth they have shown ‍my family. I also appreciate all the outreach and well wishes from colleagues and friends. Charlene and I are very grateful for your⁤ support,” ‍he said, referring to his wife.

“I am very glad to be on the mend and look forward ⁣to returning to the Pentagon soon,” Lloyd⁤ added. “I also understand the media concerns about transparency and I recognize I could have done a better job⁢ ensuring the public was appropriately informed. I commit to ​doing‌ better. But this is important to say: this was my medical procedure, and I take full⁣ responsibility for my ​decisions about disclosure.”

How ⁤did the lack of transparency regarding Austin’s hospitalization affect the Pentagon ⁣press corps,⁣ lawmakers, and White House officials?

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Last week, Deputy Secretary Kathleen​ Hicks was left⁢ in the dark ⁣about Defense Secretary Lloyd⁣ Austin’s hospitalization,​ according to‍ a ‌report by CNN. It was revealed that ​Hicks and other top officials were‍ not informed about Austin’s situation⁢ until three days after he was ‍admitted to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center.

The Department of Defense (DoD) stated that Hicks had taken on certain operational responsibilities that require constant ⁤secure communications capabilities ⁤on Tuesday. Despite being on vacation in Puerto Rico, Hicks had planned to return to Washington, D.C., on Friday.‍ However, she decided to stay‌ put as Austin was ⁤expected to resume his duties from the hospital.

Pentagon Press Secretary ‌Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder explained that it is not uncommon for the defense secretary ⁤to delegate certain responsibilities without ⁢explanation. During this time, Hicks made routine operational and management decisions. Ryder also emphasized that Austin ‌has ‌no plans to resign.

However, the ‍DoD surprised the ⁣Pentagon press corps, lawmakers, and ⁢even reportedly ‌White House officials on Thursday when it announced that Austin had been hospitalized on Monday ⁣evening due to complications following a recent elective medical procedure. The statement mentioned that Austin was recovering well and expected to‌ resume his full duties.

NBC‍ News revealed that Austin spent four days in ⁤the⁢ intensive care unit, while‍ POLITICO⁢ reported that Gen. ⁢C.Q. Brown, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, was informed about Austin’s situation on Tuesday. Acting Defense Undersecretary ⁣for Policy Sasha Baker ⁤attended a‍ White ‌House meeting in Austin’s place without knowledge of his hospitalization.

A ‍White House official confirmed President Joe Biden’s full confidence in Austin and his ⁢anticipation of⁢ his return to the⁤ Pentagon. However, a U.S. official told ABC News that Biden ⁤was exasperated⁢ by the lack⁣ of ⁣transparency and that there would be a review of the episode.

While Ryder mentioned ‌that ⁢there were multiple factors to consider, such as medical⁣ and privacy issues, members of the media and Congress expressed‍ outrage and demanded more ⁤information. The board of directors of the Pentagon Press Association even sent a letter requesting a meeting with ‌the DoD to ‌discuss the lack of transparency regarding Austin’s hospitalization.

As the situation unfolds, it‍ remains to be seen how the DoD will handle the fallout from not informing key officials about ‍Austin’s hospitalization. The incident‌ raises questions about ‌communication protocols and the need for transparency in government agencies, particularly ⁤when it comes ⁤to the health and well-being of high-ranking officials.

This⁢ lack of transparency also highlights the importance of accountability and ensuring that appropriate succession plans⁣ are‍ in place in the‍ event of unforeseen circumstances. While it is ⁣understandable that certain⁣ details may need to be kept confidential for security reasons, it​ is imperative that key individuals are kept informed to ensure the smooth functioning of critical operations.

In the coming days, it is ⁤expected that more information will be released about Austin’s condition and why key officials were not informed in a timely manner. The incident serves as a reminder that openness,⁤ transparency, and effective communication⁣ are vital in government institutions to maintain public trust and ​confidence.

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