U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has been summoned to appear before Congress to provide clarification regarding his recent undisclosed hospitalization.
The lack of transparency surrounding Austin's health status and the ensuing communication breakdown, which left senior officials and the White House uninformed about his condition and location for several days, has drawn significant criticism.
In a letter dated last Thursday, Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, Mike Rogers, a Republican from Alabama, expressed his concerns to Austin following the revelation of the latter's hospitalization due to complications from an elective surgery. Rogers wrote, "While you did respond to some of my questions, a concerning number of questions were not addressed."
He also expressed his alarm at Austin's refusal to disclose whether he had instructed his staff to withhold information about his hospitalization from the President or anyone else.
Rogers added, "Unfortunately, this leads me to believe that information is being withheld from Congress."
In response, Austin's office stated that the Department of Defense had sent three letters to the House Armed Services Committee in a "good-faith effort" to address their concerns. This was done while acknowledging an ongoing internal 30-day review and a separate review by the DOD Inspector General. The Department, in a statement to Fox News Digital, expressed its commitment to continue working with the Committee to meet its legislative needs, adding, "As always, we will respond to congressional requests as appropriate, to include requests for the Secretary to testify. We have nothing further to provide at this time."
The summons for Austin to testify followed reports that his aide had requested first responders to maintain discretion and avoid using sirens or lights when transporting him from his home to the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center on New Year's Day, as revealed by a 911 call.
Despite being admitted to Walter Reed on January 1, the Pentagon did not inform the public, press, or Congress until January 5. Austin, who continued to work virtually while still hospitalized, even authorized airstrikes on Yemen's Iran-backed Houthis. He was discharged on Monday. It was also acknowledged that the White House was not informed about Austin's hospitalization until January 4.
In addition to the congressional summons, the Pentagon is conducting an internal review into the communication lapse. Rogers, in his letter, emphasized the need for reliable leadership at the department amid global instability.
He wrote, "Maintaining the most ready and lethal force possible requires that everyone in the national security community be able to rely upon the secretary of defenses availability and transparency." He concluded by expressing regret that Austin had not exhibited these attributes during the recent events.
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