A Department of Defense review into Secretary Lloyd Austin’s undisclosed hospitalization in early January found that he did not act with “ill intent or an attempt to obfuscate.”
Austin, who was diagnosed with prostate cancer in early December 2023 and received treatment on Dec. 22, was transported by ambulance back to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center with severe complications from the initial procedure on Jan 1. He was released on Jan. 15.
But the White House was not informed of his hospitalization until Jan. 4, while Congress and the public were not notified until Jan. 5, even though Austin transferred his authorities to Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks on Jan. 2. Hicks didn’t know Austin had been hospitalized until Jan. 4.
Austin was put in the critical care unit on Jan. 2, and he didn’t have access to the complete communications needed to be secretary, prompting the transfer of his authorities to Hicks.
The Pentagon released an unclassified summary of the classified 30-day review, which was conducted by the Office of the Director of Administration and Management, on Monday. The review found that the deputy secretary was at all times positioned to perform all the functions and duties of the secretary of defense during the period of transfer from January.
The review found that Hicks was at all times positioned to perform all the functions and duties of the secretary of defense when she had assumed authority from Austin.
The secretary and deputy secretary have implemented two of the eight recommendations outlined in the 30-day review, according to a memo from Austin, a reaffirmation of their expectations of and for their staffs in the context of information-sharing and writing guidelines for reporting expectations that make sharing such information routine.
Austin directed the implementation of the other six recommendations within the next 90 days, unless specified otherwise. They included: The director of administration management will develop and codify internal guidances regarding the assumption of duties by deputies, and the director will ensure officials designated in the secretary’s line of succession are familiar with the processes, procedures, and staffing necessary to perform the duties of acting secretary; the director will ensure within the next 120 days that applicable DOD issuances reflect policy changes; the chiefs of staff to the secretary and deputy secretary will develop a mandatory reporting protocol, and the general council will review and work with relevant people to update and align reporting requirements; and lastly, the undersecretary for policy will review and update the secretary’s continuity of operations plan.
The secretary has since apologized for the secrecy surrounding his hospitalization and diagnosis.
“I was being treated for prostate cancer,” he said earlier this month. “The news shook me, and I know that it shakes so many others, especially in the black community. It was a gut punch, and, frankly, my first instinct was to keep it private. I don’t think it’s news that I’m a pretty private guy. I never like burdening others with my problems. It’s just not my way, but I’ve learned from this experience.”
Austin was hospitalized again on Feb. 11 and stayed through Feb. 13 for an “emergent bladder issue.” The department notified Congress, the White House, and the public of Austin’s hospitalization on Feb. 11, the day he was brought to Walter Reed, demonstrating a much faster notification process.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER
There is also an ongoing Department of Defense inspector general investigation into the matter.
Austin will testify in front of the House Armed Services Committee on Thursday to discuss his hospitalization.
