Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin takes responsibility for keeping his hospitalization secret for several days, acknowledging that he understands the concerns about it and takes “full responsibility” for not having disclosed the matter.
Austin, 70, admitted in a statement that he “could have done a better job ensuring the public was properly informed” about his unspecified medical treatment and pledged to “do better.”
The secretary was admitted to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center on Monday for an elective procedure, developed undisclosed medical complications and remained hospitalized until Saturday.
He thanked the medical staff at Walter Reed for the exceptional care and warmth shown to his family, expressing his joy at their recovery and anticipating his soon return to the Pentagon.
The lack of transparency around Austin’s hospitalization has raised questions about the Defense Department’s effectiveness during a crucial week, with the United States facing conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza.
Austin, as defense secretary, is second in the chain of command responsible for military decisions, and the ambiguity over how his absence was handled raises questions about the Pentagon’s ability to deal with an emergency.
During Austin’s hospitalization, U.S. forces carried out a rare airstrike on Baghdad, sparking controversy and questions about the duration of the U.S. troop presence in Iraq.
Austin’s hospitalization was kept secret from many officials, including President Biden, until Thursday. The lack of information drew criticism on Capitol Hill, where some leaders of the Senate Armed Services Committee were not briefed until Friday evening.
The way the situation was handled has been questioned, calling it “unacceptable” by military experts, and some politicians are demanding consequences for the lack of information.
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