President Joe Biden's administration is facing a storm of criticism and charges of incompetence from Republicans after Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin's recent hospitalization was kept from the public for days.
WASHINGTON, DC - OCTOBER 02: U.S. President Joe Biden holds a Cabinet meeting at the White House on October 02, 2023 in Washington, DC. Biden held the meeting to discuss economic legislation, artificial intelligence, and gun violence. Biden was joined by Secretary of State Antony Blinken (L) and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin. (Photo by Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)
Even the White House was kept out of the loop. Secretary Austin is currently fighting prostate cancer, reports the Lincoln Journal Star.
The circumstances surrounding his illness have spurred a broad review of what rules are in place to prevent the public from being kept in the dark regarding such an important manner. Additionally, the Pentagon is looking over its procedures following this lapse of information that left even Austin's top deputies clueless about the existence and extent of his illness.
Congressional Republicans are actively investigating whether the Secretary of Defense ignored any legal requirements to inform Congress, and Biden officials are upset over Austin's lack of disclosure. They believe that it undercuts the president's message to restore competency in the White House.
This incident is also shining light on Biden's own health, which has come under attack since he was elected. President Joe Biden is currently the oldest United States president in history and is seeking another term.
After days of silence regarding Austin's medical diagnosis, the Pentagon disclosed that Secretary Austin was admitted to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center on December 22nd to undergo surgery to treat the disease. He developed a urinary tract infection a week later and was moved to intensive care. Secretary Austin remains hospitalized as of Wednesday.
The White House insists that no one there, including Biden, knew about the diagnosis until Tuesday.
"I think we all recognize - and I think the Pentagon has been very, very honest with themselves - about the challenge to credibility by what has transpired here, and by how hard it was for them to be fully transparent with the American people," John Kirby, spokesman for the National Security Council, said Tuesday. "We all recognize that this didn't unfold the way it should have - on so many levels."
There is currently no government-spanning policy on how the absences of Cabinet officials should be handled in the Biden administration.
