WASHINGTON - The Pentagon released new details Jan. 7 about Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin’s continued hospitalization at Walter Reed hospital, saying he had a medical procedure done Dec. 22, went home a day later and was admitted to its ICU on Jan. 1 when he began experiencing severe pain.
The latest information came as members of both parties expressed sharp concerns about SECDEF's hospital stay and the fact that the president and other senior leaders were kept in the dark about it for days.
The statement, released by Air Force Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder, did not, however, provide any details about the medical procedure or what happened Jan. 1 that required Austin to be admitted to the Army medical facility.
The Pentagon’s failure reflects a stunning lack of transparency about the seriousness of the illness and when he may be released. Such secrecy, at a time of a myriad of national security issues, runs counter to normal practice.
National Security Council and Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks were not notified until Jan. 4.
Ryder said Austin’s chief of staff, Kelly Magsamen, was ill and “unable to make notifications before then.” He said she informed Hicks and the NSC adviser Jake Sullivan on Thursday.
Once notified, Hicks began preparing statements to send to Congress and made plans to return to Washington from Puerto Rico, where she was on leave but had communications equipment to remain in contact.
Austin, 70, remains hospitalized.
Sen. Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), ranking Republican on the Senate Armed Services Committee, said the episode erodes trust in the administration and called on DoD to provide lawmakers with a “full accounting of the facts immediately.”
"(T)he fact remains that the Department of Defense deliberately withheld the Secretary of Defense’s medical condition for days. That is unacceptable,” Wicker said.
The Pentagon Press Association, which represents journalists who cover the Defense Department, sent a letter of protest on Friday evening, calling the delay in alerting the public “an outrage.” (The AP 01/07/24) Pentagon adds new details about defense secretary's hospital stay, delay in telling Biden | AP News
Regional Note: Austin is a native of Mobile, Ala.
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