Top armed services lawmakers call on Austin to answer questions about hospital stay
Top Republican and Democratic lawmakers on the House Armed Services Committee (HASC) called for answers Monday on why Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin's hospital visit was kept secret for four days last week.
Rep. Mike Rogers (R-Ala.), chairman of the HASC, and Rep. Adam Smith (D-Wash.), its ranking member, said they were "concerned with how the disclosure of the secretary’s condition was handled."
"Several questions remain unanswered including what the medical procedure and resulting complications were, what the secretary’s current health status is, how and when the delegation of the secretary’s responsibilities were made, and the reason for the delay in notification to the president and Congress," the lawmakers said in a statement.
“Transparency is vitally important," they wrote, adding that "Austin must provide these additional details on his health and the decision-making process that occurred in the past week as soon as possible."
Austin was admitted to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 1 and remains hospitalized as of Sunday evening, according to the Pentagon. He spent time in the intensive care unit last week.
He first went to the hospital for an elective procedure on Dec. 22 but went back on New Year's Day following complications from the surgery. The Pentagon has not clarified what the elective procedure was, or what the complications were.
The public was not notified of his hospital visit until Friday evening, shortly after 5 p.m., an unusually late disclosure for a high-ranking administration official who is now overseeing two major wars the U.S. is involved in.
Congress was reportedly not notified of the hospitalization until shortly before the statement was made public. President Biden reportedly learned of the hospitalization three days after Austin was first admitted.
During his hospitalization, the U.S. carried out a major strike against the leader of an Iranian-backed militia group in Iraq.
Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks, who was on travel to Puerto Rico at the time, was given full Pentagon command for most of last week while Austin was in the hospital.
However, even Hicks did not learn of the hospitalization until Thursday, according to NBC News. The Pentagon said full duties can be provided without a specific reason.
Criticism has mounted on Capitol Hill and beyond about the secrecy of Austin's hospitalization visit.
Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.), the House Republican Conference Chair, joined former President Trump on Monday in calling for Austin's resignation.
"This concerning lack of transparency exemplifies a shocking lack of judgment and a significant national security threat," she said in a statement.
"There must be full accountability beginning with the immediate resignation of Secretary Austin and those that lied for him and a Congressional investigation into this dangerous dereliction of duty.”
Austin said in a statement on Saturday that he takes "full responsibility" for the delayed notifications to the government and the public.
"I also understand the media concerns about transparency and I recognize I could have done a better job ensuring the public was appropriately informed. I commit to doing better," Austin said.
The Pentagon said Sunday that Austin resumed his full duties on Friday and is recovering at the hospital.
"The Secretary has received operational updates and has provided necessary guidance to his team," Pentagon press secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder said in a statement. "He has full access to required secure communications capabilities and continues to monitor [Petagon] day-to-day operations worldwide."
"While we do not have a specific date for his release at this time, we will continue to provide updates on the Secretary’s status as they become available," he added.
Ryder said that Austin spoke to Biden on Saturday and has been in touch with Hicks, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Charles Q. Brown and senior staff.