Revenue Agenda
  • Investing
  • Latest News
  • Editor’s Pick
  • Economy
  • Investing
  • Latest News
  • Editor’s Pick
  • Economy
No Result
View All Result
Revenue Agenda
No Result
View All Result
Home Investing

Defense chief Austin asked to testify before Congress on hospital secrecy

by
January 19, 2024
in Investing
0
Defense chief Austin asked to testify before Congress on hospital secrecy
0
SHARES
4
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has been called to testify before Congress to explain why he kept his recent hospitalization a secret, including from the White House.

House Armed Services Committee Chairman Mike Rogers (R-Ala.) sent a letter to Austin on Thursday, saying his “direct testimony” was required to understand the “decisions made to withhold information from the President, Congress, and the American people.”

“Congress must understand what happened and who made decisions to prevent the disclosure of the whereabouts of a cabinet secretary,” Rogers wrote. The hearing is set to take place on Feb. 14.

Austin, 70, was released from the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda on Monday, the Pentagon said, after a two-week stay that included a stint in intensive care. His medical crisis was kept secret for four days.

The situation has garnered significant interest and sparked controversy, after it was revealed Austin underwent two hospitalizations and surgery after a prostate cancer diagnosis but had not notified the White House or key Pentagon officials. It also triggered a broader debate over the proper balance between privacy and disclosure for top government officials, and whether they are allowed to keep serious medical problems to themselves.

“This is a time of immense global instability,” Rogers said in the letter. “Maintaining the most ready and lethal force possible requires that everyone in the national security community be able to rely upon the Secretary of Defense’s availability and transparency. Regrettably, you have not exhibited these attributes throughout this most recent string of events.”

In early December, following routine medical screenings, Austin learned that he had prostate cancer. The disease, the second-most common form of cancer for men, had been caught in its early stages and was considered highly treatable, the Pentagon said.

Austin underwent surgery on Dec. 22 to treat the prostate cancer, without informing President Biden and other senior administration officials. On Jan. 1, the secretary was in intense pain and suffering from nausea and severe abdominal, hip, and leg pain when he was transported to Walter Reed by ambulance from his Northern Virginia home, the Pentagon said later, and was readmitted with complications related to the earlier surgery.

According to audio of a 911 call on Jan 1., an aide to Austin requested the ambulance arrive without lights or sirens “to remain a little subtle” when approaching his home.

A handful of officials close to Austin learned about his hospitalization Jan. 2, but the information was withheld from the White House until Jan. 4, and from Congress and the public until Jan. 5.

Pentagon officials have struggled to explain the lack of transparency, including with Biden.

Austin, a retired four-star Army general, is known to be intensely private, which may have influenced how he handled his medical affairs, his colleagues have previously suggested to The Post.

“We fully recognize that there are going to be many questions, in terms of notification timelines,” Air Force Maj. Gen. Patrick Ryder, a Defense Department spokesman, said last week. He added that notification to the White House was delayed in part because Kelly Magsamen, Austin’s chief of staff, was also out sick with the flu.

The White House has said Biden retains confidence in Austin’s work as defense secretary but acknowledged frustration with the secrecy.

“It’s not good, it’s certainly not good,” John Kirby, a spokesman for the National Security Council, told reporters last week. “Which is why, again, we want to learn from this. We want to make sure it doesn’t happen again.”

White House officials have directed a review of how senior government officials delegate authority to others when needed. Austin’s chief of staff, Magsamen, has ordered a 30-day internal review of the matter and the Defense Department’s inspector general has launched an investigation.

Inspector General Robert Storch said his staff would begin its work this month and that while the inquiry will be focused on the Office of the Secretary of Defense, its scope could broaden.

In a statement following his release from the hospital, Austin thanked medical staff and said he would “continue to recuperate and perform my duties from home,” adding that he was “eager to fully recover and return as quickly as possible to the Pentagon,” without giving a specific time frame.

I want to thank the doctors and nursing staff at Walter Reed for their professionalism and superb support during my stay. Now, as I continue to recuperate and perform my duties from home, I’m eager to fully recover and return as quickly as possible to the Pentagon.…

— Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III (@SecDef) January 15, 2024

Missy Ryan, Matt Viser, Mariana Alfaro and Kelsey Ables contributed to this report.

This post appeared first on The Washington Post
Previous Post

Mortgage rates are expected to fall below 6% this year, according to Fannie Mae

Next Post

The House GOP’s growing dilemma on the immigration bill

Next Post
The House GOP’s growing dilemma on the immigration bill

The House GOP’s growing dilemma on the immigration bill

  • Trending
  • Comments
  • Latest
Top 10 Potash Countries by Production (Updated 2024)

Top 10 Potash Countries by Production (Updated 2024)

August 21, 2024
Top 10 Phosphate Countries by Production (Updated 2024)

Top 10 Phosphate Countries by Production (Updated 2024)

August 1, 2024
Top 10 Uranium-producing Countries (Updated 2024)

Top 10 Uranium-producing Countries (Updated 2024)

November 6, 2024
7 Biggest Lithium-mining Companies in 2024

7 Biggest Lithium-mining Companies in 2024

September 18, 2024
Top 5 Canadian Mining Stocks This Week: StrategX Jumps 64 Percent on Fundraising

Top 5 Canadian Mining Stocks This Week: StrategX Jumps 64 Percent on Fundraising

0
New Hampshire Gov. Sununu signs $15.2B ‘miracle’ budget into law

New Hampshire Gov. Sununu signs $15.2B ‘miracle’ budget into law

0

Pennsylvania House clears tax credits for new teachers, nurses, police officers

0
Evers signs bipartisan sales tax bill aimed at sparing Milwaukee from bankruptcy

Evers signs bipartisan sales tax bill aimed at sparing Milwaukee from bankruptcy

0
Top 5 Canadian Mining Stocks This Week: StrategX Jumps 64 Percent on Fundraising

Top 5 Canadian Mining Stocks This Week: StrategX Jumps 64 Percent on Fundraising

August 24, 2025
Tech 5: Softbank to Invest US$2 Billion in Intel, Figure Seeks Nasdaq IPO

Tech 5: Softbank to Invest US$2 Billion in Intel, Figure Seeks Nasdaq IPO

August 24, 2025
OPINION — Goldenomics 104: Trump’s Tariffs and Gold

OPINION — Goldenomics 104: Trump’s Tariffs and Gold

August 23, 2025
Gold Price Rises as Powell Boosts Rate Cut Expectations in Jackson Hole Speech

Gold Price Rises as Powell Boosts Rate Cut Expectations in Jackson Hole Speech

August 23, 2025
Enter Your Information Below To Receive Trading Ideas and Latest News

Error: Contact form not found.

Your information is secure and your privacy is protected. By opting in you agree to receive emails from us. Remember that you can opt-out any time, we hate spam too!

Recent News

Top 5 Canadian Mining Stocks This Week: StrategX Jumps 64 Percent on Fundraising

Top 5 Canadian Mining Stocks This Week: StrategX Jumps 64 Percent on Fundraising

August 24, 2025
Tech 5: Softbank to Invest US$2 Billion in Intel, Figure Seeks Nasdaq IPO

Tech 5: Softbank to Invest US$2 Billion in Intel, Figure Seeks Nasdaq IPO

August 24, 2025
OPINION — Goldenomics 104: Trump’s Tariffs and Gold

OPINION — Goldenomics 104: Trump’s Tariffs and Gold

August 23, 2025
Gold Price Rises as Powell Boosts Rate Cut Expectations in Jackson Hole Speech

Gold Price Rises as Powell Boosts Rate Cut Expectations in Jackson Hole Speech

August 23, 2025
  • About us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms & Conditions
  • About us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms & Conditions

Copyright © 2025 revenueagenda.com | All Rights Reserved

No Result
View All Result
  • Investing
  • Latest News
  • Editor’s Pick
  • Economy

Copyright © 2025 revenueagenda.com | All Rights Reserved