In a highly critical report released on Wednesday, the Pentagon’s watchdog concluded that Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin had failed to inform Congress or the White House when he was incapacitated due to treatment for prostate cancer last year. The report also found that complications worsened his condition, further highlighting the lack of transparency on the matter.
The report by inspector general Robert Storch faults Austin for not properly communicating his medical condition to the necessary parties. The report highlights multiple instances where Austin’s desire for privacy influenced his staff’s decisions in keeping his hospitalization a secret, even from President Joe Biden.
In one example, Austin directed his staff that if anyone had questions about his condition, “you’re more than welcome to ask (me) directly.” This likely had a chilling effect on any further inquiry into his condition.
The report states that Austin did not inform Congress or the White House of his initial treatment for prostate cancer in December 2023, nor did he inform his staff or the White House when his condition worsened on January 1, 2024, leading to him being taken by ambulance to Walter Reed Army National Military Medical Center.
Furthermore, the report reveals that “no one on Secretary Austin’s staff knew the seriousness of his condition,” including when he was transferred to the Surgical Intensive Care Unit (SICU) the next day.
The release of this report comes just four days before Austin is set to leave his position, with President-elect Donald Trump taking office. While the report sheds new light on the lack of communication between Austin and his staff, it does not reveal any new information that could be considered a “bombshell.”
The findings of this report echo the criticisms raised in an internal review conducted about a month after Austin’s hospitalization. However, that review, which was carried out by Austin’s subordinates, largely absolved anyone of wrongdoing and stated that there was “no indication of ill intent or an attempt to obfuscate.”
Despite transferring decision-making authorities to Deputy Secretary Kathleen Hicks during his initial surgery and again when he was in intensive care, Austin did not inform her of the reasons for his hospitalization, nor did he disclose it to the White House. This incident caused anger and frustration among officials in the White House and members of Congress, who demanded that someone should be held accountable for the lack of transparency.
In a hearing on Capitol Hill, Austin faced bipartisan criticism and pressure to take responsibility for the communication failures surrounding his hospitalization. He acknowledged that he should have handled the situation differently and apologized for keeping Biden and other senior leaders in the dark.
According to the report, Austin was diagnosed with prostate cancer in early December 2023 and underwent surgery at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center on December 22. On January 1, 2024, he was rushed back to the hospital by ambulance due to significant pain and was then moved to the intensive care unit the following day.
Pentagon officials have admitted that while public affairs and defense aides were informed of Austin’s hospitalization on January 2, this information was not made public and was not disclosed to military service leaders or the National Security Council until January 4. It was only on this day that Biden was informed. It took four more days before the reason for Austin’s hospitalization was made public.
The internal review attributed the delay in informing the president and other senior leaders to privacy restrictions and staff hesitancy. As a result, several procedural changes have been recommended to improve communication and avoid similar problems in the future. These include better guidelines for the transfer of authorities and improved reporting requirements during such incidents.
The incident also prompted the White House to make changes in federal guidelines, further highlighting the need for increased transparency and communication within the Pentagon.
In conclusion, the report released by the Pentagon’s watchdog highlights the failures in communication surrounding Secretary Austin’s hospitalization for prostate cancer. While the incident has raised concerns and calls for accountability, it has also brought about necessary changes to improve communication and transparency within the Pentagon. It is essential that all officials, including high-ranking ones like Austin, prioritize transparency and effective communication to avoid similar issues in the future.
