The Democrat chair of the Senate Armed Services Committee voiced his concern Monday about the lack of transparency by the Pentagon regarding Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin’s hospitalization last week.
Doctors at Walter Reed Army Medical Center revealed Tuesday that Austin, 70, who was being treated for prostate cancer, had a “minimally invasive surgical procedure” on Dec. 22 and went home the next day, CNN reported. But Austin was taken to Walter Reed on New Year’s Day after experiencing nausea with severe abdominal, hip, and leg pain, and was put in intensive care with a urinary tract infection. He was released from intensive care Monday but remains hospitalized.
President Joe Biden and other senior White House officials were kept in the dark about Austin’s condition, prompting lawmakers from both parties to voice concern about the Pentagon’s lack of transparency.
“I wish Secretary Austin a speedy and complete recovery,” Jack Reed, D-R.I., said in a statement posted Monday on X by his committee. “I remain concerned that vital chain of command and notification procedures were not followed while the Secretary was in medical care. He is taking responsibility for the situation, but this was a serious incident that needs … transparency and accountability from the Department.
“The lack of disclosure must never happen again. I am tracking the situation closely and the Department of Defense is well aware of my interest in any and all relevant information.”
An aide to Reed, speaking to The Washington Post on the condition of anonymity to discuss the sensitive issue, said Reed and other Armed Services Committee members from both political parties want more information so they can determine who is responsible for the notification breakdown.
Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Ala., chair of the House Armed Services Committee, and ranking member Rep. Adam Smith, D-Wash., issued a joint statement similar to Reed’s on Sunday.
“While we wish Sec. Austin a speedy recovery, we are concerned with how the disclosure of the Secretary’s condition was handled,” the lawmakers wrote.
Michael Katz ✉
Michael Katz is a Newsmax reporter with more than 30 years of experience reporting and editing on news, culture, and politics.
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