Now even Joe Biden said to have had no clue Defense Secretary was in ICU
Americans are tonight stunned to hear even President Joe Biden did not know his Defense Secretary was terribly sick in the ICU.
Lloyd Austin remained in the hospital Sunday night and a storm is brewing over The Pentagon's failure to disclose his hospitalisation, in what has been criticised as a shocking lack of transparency about his illness, how serious it was and when he may be released. With a myriad national security crises affecting the US, many feel this secrecy runs counter to normal practice with the president and other senior U.S. officials and Cabinet members.
A senior defense official said that even Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks was not notified until Thursday that Austin had been hospitalised since Jan. 1. He remains at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center.
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Austin had complications after a minor procedure (AFP via Getty Images)When she finally found out, Hicks began preparing statements to send to Congress and made plans to return to Washington, the official said. Hicks was in Puerto Rico on leave but had communications equipment with her to remain in contact and had already been tasked with some secretary-level duties on Tuesday.
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The Pentagon has not revealed if Hicks was given an explanation on Tuesday for why she was assuming some of Austin's duties, but temporary transfers of authority are not unusual and the official said it is not totally out of the blue for authorities to be transferred without a detailed explanation. Hicks decided not to return after she was informed that Austin would resume full control on Friday.
But, shockingly, President Biden also was not told of Austin's hospitaliaation until he was finally informed on Thursday by his national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, according to three people with knowledge of the hospitalisation who were not authorised to speak publicly and spoke to the AP news agency anonymously.
Biden did not know Austin was hospitalized (Anadolu via Getty Images)In a statement issued Saturday evening, Austin took responsibility for the delays in telling the president.
"I recognise I could have done a better job ensuring the public was appropriately informed. I commit to doing better," said Austin, acknowledging the concerns about transparency.
"But this is important to say: this was my medical procedure, and I take full responsibility for my decisions about disclosure."
Originally hospitalised for a small elective procedure, Austin, 70, remained hospitalised due to complications, his press secretary said, as it became increasingly clear how closely the Pentagon held information about his stay at Walter Reed. In his statement, Austin said he is on the mend and is looking forward to returning to the Pentagon soon.
He provided no other details about his condition.
But the opposition has not been best pleased.
Sen. Roger Wicker, the top-ranking Republican on the Senate Armed Services Committee, said the episode worryingly diminished trust in the Biden administration and called on the department to provide lawmakers with a "full accounting of the facts immediately."
Austin has apologized for the lack of transparency (AFP via Getty Images)
"I am glad to hear Secretary Austin is in improved condition and I wish him a speedy recovery. However, the fact remains that the Department of Defense deliberately withheld the Secretary of Defense's medical condition for days. That is unacceptable," Wicker said in a statement.
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Journalists have equally been upset by the lack of transparency.
The Pentagon Press Association, the group which represents journalists who cover the Defense Department, sent a letter of concern on Friday evening, calling the delay in alerting the public "an outrage."
"At a time when there are growing threats to U.S. military service members in the Middle East and the U.S. is playing key national security roles in the wars in Israel and Ukraine, it is particularly critical for the American public to be informed about the health status and decision-making ability of its top defense leader," the PPA said in the letter.
This lack of transparency is rare.. When Attorney General Merrick Garland went in for a routine medical procedure in 2022, his office told the public what was happening a week in advance and outlined how long he was expected to be out and when he would return to work.
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