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The secrecy surrounding Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin’s hospitalization in late 2023 and early 2024 “unnecessarily increased” risks to U.S. national security, the Pentagon inspector general said in a report released Wednesday. I concluded.
The nearly year-long investigation examined more than 56 million pieces of data, including text messages and confidential emails, and included interviews with 44 witnesses, the IG said, adding that Austin had The study focused on three periods from the end of 2023 to 2024 during which patients were hospitalized. Associated with prostate cancer diagnosis. Austin’s hospitalization was kept secret from the White House and top national security officials for several days, raising major questions about processes surrounding transparency, communication, proper notification and transfer of authority.
Commenting on Wednesday’s report, a senior defense official said Austin “admitted he made a mistake, apologized and committed to improving transparency and processes going forward.”
“There was no scandal or cover-up. In fact, the report found that the secretary was never incapacitated while performing her duties,” the official said. “The report also found that there was no disruption of command and control at any point, nor was there a lack of authority or operational impact.”
During Austin’s two medical procedures, on January 6 and 8, 2024, he was “moderately sedated” and was told he may require anesthesia, leaving him mentally impaired for at least 24 hours. Advised not to engage in activities that require non-compliance.
However, the investigation found that Austin “did not delegate authority” during that period and did not communicate the process to Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks or his chief of staff.
The review found that Austin was in “serious condition” due to another procedure weeks later, but did not transfer authority to Hicks until “several hours” after being admitted.
Mr. Storch and his office also did not notify the White House and other necessary agencies early enough that Mr. Austin planned to transfer power to Mr. Hicks in December 2023 and January 2024. It also became clear that
“The ability of the Department of Defense and the government to work seamlessly and maintain leadership under any circumstances is fundamental to our national security,” Storch said in a statement. “Although we did not find any adverse impacts on Department of Defense operations resulting from the way hospitalizations are handled, we did not find any adverse effects on Department of Defense operations resulting from the way hospitalizations are handled, but they do unnecessarily increase risks to the national defense, including the command and control of the Department of Defense’s critical national security activities.” did.”
At a press conference last year, Austin admitted that there had been a mistake in how he was treated at the hospital, and that he believed the reason he wanted to keep it a secret was simply because he was a very private person and didn’t want to burden others with his symptoms. Ta.
“Let me be clear: We did not handle this right. And I did not handle this right. I should have told the president that I had been diagnosed with cancer. Team I should have told the American people, and I take full responsibility,” Austin said at the time. “I apologize to my teammates and the American people.”
Austin’s desire for privacy was so strong that on January 1st, he requested that the ambulance that picked him up from his home not use lights or sirens, the IG revealed. He also specifically told one of his junior staff members, “If you have any questions, please ask (me) directly,” although the IG says this is unlikely to prompt any actual questions regarding his condition. I decided that.
Even Austin’s chief of staff at the time, Kelly Magsamen, complained that she was not given more information about Austin’s medical condition and that “the staff’s attitude has completely blacked out.”
According to documents obtained by the IG, Mr. Magsamen wrote to one of Mr. Austin’s aides saying, “I wish (Secretary Austin) was a normal person, but he is (Secretary of Defense).” “We have a huge responsibility as an organization. He cannot be completely dark about his staff. … We told him that we could not keep his hospitalization a secret forever. Please. It’s kind of a big deal that he’s in the (SICU). And I’m sick and worried.”
Mr. Magsamen also texted Mr. Austin’s aides that the White House National Security Council “continues to ask me” about Mr. Austin’s whereabouts, later saying the White House was “outraged” by the situation. ” he added.
“We know this is a balancing act between his privacy, recovery and national security, but we are soon reaching a breaking point,” Magsamen wrote in the report.
The IG made 20 recommendations to improve future processes, including increasing the number of people involved in decision-making in similar situations and strengthening the flow of information within the Department of Defense and between agencies. . A senior Pentagon official said Wednesday that the Pentagon agreed with all 20 recommendations.
CNN’s Haley Britzky contributed to this report.
