Pentagon discharges himself after keeping Austin hospital secret

An internal review blames privacy restrictions and staff hesitancy for the Pentagon’s failure to quickly notify the president and other senior leaders last month that Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin was hospitalized due to complications from prostate cancer surgery.

The review, which was done by Austin’s subordinates, largely exonerated anyone of wrongdoing over the confidentiality of his stay in the hospital, which included several days in the intensive care unit. It categorically stated there was “no suggestion of malice or attempt to obfuscate.”

Instead, a 30-day review of the lapse — which angered the White House and members of Congress — said procedures must be improved and information better shared about when the defense secretary must hand over decision-making authority to his deputy.

Austin was summoned to Capitol Hill for a House hearing on Thursday and is expected to face harsh criticism. The Defense Department’s inspector general is also conducting a review, but it has not yet been completed.

Austin was diagnosed with prostate cancer in early December and went to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center for surgery on December 22. On January 1, he was transported back to Walter Reed by ambulance after experiencing significant pain and was transferred to the intensive care unit. tomorrow.

Although he turned decision-making over to Deputy Secretary of State Katherine Hicks during the initial surgery and again while he was in intensive care, he did not tell her why or notify the White House.

Pentagon officials acknowledged that public affairs and defense aides were informed on Jan. 2 that Austin had been hospitalized but did not disclose it until Jan. 4, when military leaders or the National Security Council were told. Only then did President Joe Biden find out. It would be another four days before the reason for his hospitalization was revealed.

Defense Department officials on Monday released an unclassified summary of the review and a series of recommended changes. The review revealed there was no established way of dealing with such incidents and the fact that his hospitalization was “unplanned” led to the failure to let others know.

It also said Austin’s staff was restricted by medical privacy laws that bar doctors from providing information, and they were “hesitant to pry or share any information they learned.” It added that because Austin’s condition was “continuously changing,” it added They cannot ensure “timely” secure communications. “

Pentagon press secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder told reporters on Monday that Austin’s aides found themselves in an “unprecedented situation.” He said when Austin was moved to the intensive care unit, his aides realized he was losing access to vital communications, so they decided to hand over authority to deputies.

The fact that staff, not Austin, made the decision raises questions about who was in control of the department, including the U.S. nuclear arsenal, at the time. Ryder said there were “no gaps” in the department’s command and control.

Asked if there had been no blame and if anyone had been disciplined, Ryder said, “As the secretary said, the buck stops with him for not notifying the president and the White House sooner.”

He added, “Dedicated public servants are doing what they believe is right.”

The 30-day review was completed and submitted to Austin on February 8, but only parts of it have been released publicly. The Pentagon argued that parts of the report were classified.

Austin told reporters at a news conference after returning to work that he never told his staff to keep his surgery and hospitalization secret from the White House, but acknowledged that he should have handled it differently and that he was prepared to allow Biden to Deng and others remained in the White House to apologize. dark. He denied there was a culture of secrecy in his office and said staff may have believed “what they were doing was in my best interest.”

Recommended changes include better guidance on the transition of powers and better reporting requirements during these events.

His secrecy about his hospitalization prompted the White House to issue new guidance to ensure it is notified if Cabinet heads are unavailable for medical, travel or other reasons to hand over decision-making authority.