A House Democrat became the first congressional member of his party on Wednesday to call for Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin to resign due to the lack of transparency surrounding his hospitalization.
Lawmakers from both parties have criticized both Austin and his senior staffers for failing to notify Congress, the White House, and the public in a timely fashion, though Rep. Chris Deluzio (D-PA) became the first congressional Democrat to call for his resignation publicly.
“I have lost trust in Secretary Lloyd Austin’s leadership of the Defense Department due to the lack of transparency about his recent medical treatment and its impact on the continuity of the chain of command,” he said. “I have a solemn duty in Congress to conduct oversight of the Defense Department through my service on the House Armed Services Committee. That duty today requires me to call on Secretary Austin to resign.”
Austin was diagnosed with prostate cancer early last month and had surgery to treat it on Dec. 22, 2023. He was then hospitalized on Jan. 1, following complications with the procedure. The White House was not informed Austin was in the hospital until Thursday, the public wasn’t informed until Friday, and President Joe Biden was told about Austin’s cancer diagnosis on Tuesday.
The White House was not informed of Austin’s Dec. 22 surgery, even though he transferred some of his authorities to Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks, who was also not notified that he was in the hospital until Thursday, even though he also delegated certain powers to her on Jan. 2.
Austin has not offered his resignation, and Biden said he remains confident in Austin’s ability to carry out the duties of the secretary of defense.
Both the White House and the Pentagon are reviewing their policies regarding the transfer of authorities and the notification process for such events.
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“I think we all recognize, and I think the Pentagon has been very, very honest with themselves about the challenge to credibility by what has transpired here and by what and by how hard it was for them to be fully transparent with the American people,” National Security Council coordinator John Kirby told reporters on Tuesday. “I think we all recognize that.”
Pentagon spokesman Maj. Gen. Patrick Ryder said Austin was in good condition on Wednesday and that the secretary “took an operational update” with CENTCOM commander Gen. Erik Kurilla and Gen. Charles Q. Brown, the chairman of the Joint Staff, but remains in the hospital without a clear release date.
