Defense Sec. Lloyd Austin is on Capitol Hill today to face Republican questioning about his recent secret hospitalization in a reduced hearing because “sitting too long” is painful for the still-recovering secretary.
Lawmakers are trying to get to the bottom of why he failed to inform President Joe Biden of his sudden absence for three full days.
Austin, 70, was unexpectedly hospitalized on Jan. 1 after undergoing surgery for prostate cancer a few weeks earlier.
He did not inform President Biden of his whereabouts until January 4. He also kept the second deputy secretary of defense, Kathleen Hicks, in the dark.
“It is totally unacceptable that it took more than three days to inform the president that the Secretary of Defense was in the hospital and was not in control of the Pentagon,” House Armed Services Chairman Mike Rogers will say. at Thursday’s hearing.
Rogers also agreed to Austin’s request to limit the length of the hearing to two hours since he is still recovering.
“We understand that he is still recovering and that sitting for too long is not the best for his health,” Rogers will say in comments obtained by DailyMail.com.
Austin was seen walking very slowly down the hallway outside the courtroom. He ignored DailyMail.com’s question about whether he is healthy enough to carry out his duties as defense secretary.
Austin, 70, was unexpectedly hospitalized on Jan. 1 after undergoing surgery for prostate cancer a week earlier.
Many House Republicans have called for his resignation for failing to inform Biden of his condition, especially as wars rage in Ukraine and Israel.
“So, in consultation with Ranking Member Smith, we have agreed to his request to limit his appearance before us today to two hours.”
That means not all lawmakers will be able to question Austin in person.
Many House Republicans have called for his resignation for failing to inform Biden of his condition, especially as wars rage in Ukraine and Israel.
Austin did not reveal the cause of his surgery (his prostate cancer) until January 9 after facing days of questions about his hospitalization. Biden found out the same day as the general public.
The Pentagon released a report earlier this week clearing Austin of wrongdoing over his secret hospitalization, but Republicans still want answers.
“Nothing examined during this review demonstrated any indication of malicious intent or an attempt to obfuscate,” the department concluded in its internal review. The unclassified portion was published on Monday.
It found that concerns about medical privacy and a rapidly changing situation were the main culprits in keeping Austin’s hospitalization hidden from President Joe Biden, top Pentagon officials and the public.
Inspector General Robert Storch is still conducting his formal review. In announcing it, he said his office would examine any breaches of protocol related to Austin’s surgery for prostate cancer, his rehospitalization for complications and the lack of disclosure to the White House and the general public.
The finding is unlikely to satisfy members of Congress, many of whom have called for Austin to resign.
Chairman Rogers addresses the report by saying that he was “led to believe” that the review would “shed light on the matter.”
However, it “does not include any explanation for why the president and his staff were left in the dark.”
Furthermore, “it makes no recommendations to improve communication with the White House,” Rogers will say.
“And, as expected, it doesn’t hold anyone responsible,” he adds.
Austin was readmitted to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center on February 11, reporting discomfort from a bladder problem related to his December 2023 prostate cancer surgery. He was released on February 13.
He later apologized to President Biden and the American people for keeping his diagnosis a secret.
He called his prostate cancer diagnosis a “punch in the gut” and said it “shock” him personally.
“I was being treated for prostate cancer. The news moved me and I know it moves many others, especially in the black community. “It was a punch in the stomach,” he said.