Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin's Hospitalization Raises Questions About Transparency

President Joe Biden expressed frustration at the delayed disclosure of Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin's ongoing hospitalization, according to a U.S. official. The news of Austin's health issues was made public late last week, several days after he was admitted to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. The Pentagon has now provided some additional details about Austin's condition.

The U.S. official revealed that there will be a review of the way the disclosure of Austin's medical treatment was handled, and someone could face consequences, potentially losing their job. While the White House publicly supports Austin, stating that Biden has full confidence in the Defense Secretary, there were reportedly anger and disappointment among White House aides due to the lack of information about Austin's hospitalization.

Austin, who is 70 years old, was hospitalized on the night of New Year's Day for complications arising from a minor elective procedure. However, the White House did not learn about his hospitalization until three days later, and Congress was only notified the following day. The timeline of information dissemination has raised concerns both within and outside of the government.

In a statement provided by Pentagon spokesperson Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder, it was revealed that Austin had the elective procedure on December 22 and returned home the next day. However, on January 1, he began experiencing severe pain and was transported back to Walter Reed.

For privacy reasons, additional information about Austin's condition was not disclosed, but it was mentioned that he was placed in the hospital's intensive care unit initially for immediate access to medical care. Ryder also explained that Austin remained in that location partly due to hospital space considerations and privacy.

During Austin's hospitalization, Kathleen Hicks, his deputy, was not informed in advance and was on vacation in Puerto Rico. She had to be brought to a secure location to assist in filling in for Austin's responsibilities.

Despite the lack of transparency surrounding Austin's hospitalization, he is said to be recovering well and in good spirits. The Pentagon has not provided a specific release date yet. Austin resumed his duties on Friday night.

While the White House was unaware of Austin's hospitalization for days, General CQ Brown Jr., the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, was informed on Tuesday about the Defense Secretary's hospitalization the night before.

In a statement on Saturday, Austin apologized for not adequately informing the public and accepted responsibility for the decision regarding disclosure, stating that he commits to doing better in the future.

The delayed disclosure of Austin's hospitalization has led to questions about transparency and communication within the government. The review of the handling of this situation aims to address these concerns and ensure better protocols for sharing information in the future.