WASHINGTON (NEWSnet/AP) — Members of Congress and Pentagon leaders were unaware for days that Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin had been hospitalized since Jan. 1, U.S. officials said Saturday.
Questions had swirled about his condition and the secrecy surrounding it.
And it remained unclear when the White House and other key U.S. officials were told about his stay at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland.
U.S. Pentagon’s failure to disclose Austin’s hospitalization for days reflects a stunning lack of transparency about his illness, how serious it was and when he may be released. Such secrecy, at a time when the United States is juggling myriad national security situations, runs counter to typical practice with top U.S. officials.
Austin, 70, remained hospitalized due to complications following a minor elective medical procedure, his press secretary said.
Air Force Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder said the White House and the Joint Chiefs of Staff were notified about Austin's hospitalization, but he would not say when the alert occurred.
Several U.S. officials said many Pentagon service leaders were unaware until Friday that Austin was in the hospital. Officials said President Joe Biden and other senior White House staff were told, but the officials would not specify when. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss private conversations.
Ryder said members of Congress were told late Friday afternoon, and other officials said lawmakers were informed after 5 p.m.
Austin is recovering well, Ryder said, and resumed his full duties Friday evening from his hospital bed. Asked why the hospital stay was kept secret for so long, Ryder said on Friday that it was an “evolving situation,” and that due to privacy and medical issues, the Pentagon did not make Austin’s absence public. Ryder declined to provide any other details about Austin’s medical procedure or health.
Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen Hicks, who assumed duties when Austin was hospitalized, also was away. A U.S. official said she had a communications setup with her in Puerto Rico that allowed her to do the job while Austin.
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