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Pentagon Review Critiques Handling of Defense Secretary’s Hospitalization

The investigation conducted by the Pentagon’s inspector general has revealed that the handling of Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin’s hospitalization last year created unnecessary risks to national security, despite the absence of immediate repercussions for Defense Department operations.

Inspector General Robert Storch stated, “Although we found no adverse consequences to Defense Department operations arising from how the hospitalizations we reviewed were handled, the risks to our national defense, including the command and control of the Defense Department’s critical national security operations, were increased unnecessarily.” This remark underscores the gravity of readiness during a period of medical leave for a high-ranking official.

Secretary Austin was hospitalized for a two-week period at the beginning of 2024 due to surgery complications related to prostate cancer. The Pentagon incurred significant scrutiny for its delayed notifications to the White House regarding Austin’s condition, particularly as he spent time in the intensive care unit.

During his hospitalization, Austin temporarily delegated some responsibilities to the deputy Secretary of Defense from January 2 to 5. However, the report highlights that neither Austin nor his deputy notified Congress or the White House Situation Room in a timely manner, a deviation from established protocols.

Additionally, the review noted that Austin did not consider the transfer of authorities while undergoing medical procedures that required moderate sedation on January 6 and 8. The inspector general reported a lack of communication, revealing no evidence that Austin informed key staff members about his medical status during this critical period. In an effort to maintain privacy, he conveyed to his chief of staff that he wished to avoid media attention surrounding his health.

Despite his intention to stay fully engaged in his duties, Austin reported to the Inspector General that he had informed his doctors of the necessity to notify his superiors in the event he required general anesthesia. He indicated that while he acknowledged forms for moderate sedation, he emphasized the need to remain operationally functional during this time.

In response to these events, the inspector general provided 20 recommendations aimed at clarifying definitions around “medically incapacitated” and expanding the scope of who must report the hospitalization of senior Pentagon officials. A previous announcement indicated the initiation of a review process to evaluate the policies and procedures pertinent to the Secretary of Defense’s hospitalization and the management of authority transitions during health-related absences.

Moreover, the investigation revealed that Austin’s preference for privacy significantly impacted procedural adherence. It noted that not only did he avoid informing senior staff, but he explicitly encouraged direct queries about his health status, thereby limiting the information available to his team.

After resuming his duties post-hospitalization, Austin issued an apology for the lack of communication surrounding his medical condition. He expressed regret for not informing President Biden, his team, and the public about his health issues. “We did not handle this right, and I did not handle this right,” he acknowledged. “I should have told the president about my cancer diagnosis. I should have also told my team and the American public. And I take full responsibility. I apologize to my teammates and to the American people.”

In a related development, CBS News obtained an audio recording of a 911 call made by an aide, who requested that the ambulance responding to Austin’s residence do so discreetly—a request highlighting the effort to manage the situation with minimal public attention.

A complementary review released by the Pentagon earlier acknowledged that there was no intent to conceal Austin’s hospitalization; however, it called for enhancements to the protocols governing responsibility transfers during such situations.

In a recent interview, Austin confirmed to CBS that he is now cancer-free, expressing gratitude for his recovery. “I thank God for that,” he stated.

The findings and recommendations from the inspector general’s report come as Austin approaches the end of his tenure, awaiting the transition of leadership to President-elect Donald Trump.

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