The Pentagon’s inspector general will investigate whether sufficient power and duty transfer protocols exist after Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin’s recent hospitalization was not immediately disclosed to the White House or other high-ranking security officials.
A review will commence this month “to examine the roles, processes, procedures, responsibilities, and actions related to the Secretary of Defense’s hospitalization in December 2023 – January 2024, and assess whether the DoD’s policies and procedures are sufficient to ensure timely and appropriate notifications and the effective transition of authorities as may be warranted due to health-based or other unavailability of senior leadership,” the Inspector General’s office told Austin, his deputy Kathleen Hicks, and the director of administration and management at the Pentagon, according to CNN.
After days of speculation, the Pentagon confirmed that Austin was admitted to Walter Reed National Medical Center for prostate cancer treatment. Despite remaining at the hospital, Austin ordered and monitored the recent strikes against Houthi rebels in Yemen “with a full suite of secure communications,” a senior defense official reportedly said.
According to Pentagon press secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder, Austin transferred some authorities to Hicks before undergoing a “minimally invasive surgical procedure” in December. However, neither Hicks nor the White House was informed that Austin was admitted to the hospital at all.
He was readmitted to the hospital on January 1, but once again, his whereabouts were not immediately communicated. In fact, it was reportedly three days before his deputy, the White House, or other senior national security leaders were notified.
Despite the confusion and lack of timely updates, Biden said he has “complete confidence” in Austin and plans to keep his defense secretary on for the remainder of his term.