President Biden’s Defense Secretary Hospitalized and Failed to Report Condition to White House for Days

President Biden’s Defense Secretary, Lloyd Austin, was admitted to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center last week due to complications from an elective surgical procedure. However, the White House was not informed of his hospitalization for several days. Austin, who is now recovering, acknowledged that he could have done a better job informing the public about his condition.

The Pentagon initially reported that Austin underwent the surgery on Dec. 22 and was discharged the following day. However, on New Year’s Day, Austin began experiencing severe pain and was admitted to intensive care. Neither his deputy, Kathleen Hicks, nor the White House were informed of his hospitalization at the time.

Austin issued a statement recognizing his mistake and committing to doing better in the future. Reuters was the first to report that Biden is not considering removing Austin as defense secretary.

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. C.Q. Brown was informed of Austin’s hospitalization on Jan. 2, but he did not pass on this information to the White House. Over the weekend, after the news of Austin’s hospitalization and his failure to report his condition to the White House became public, the White House insisted that Biden has “full confidence” in Austin.

Austin has since resumed his full duties, but he is facing criticism from some Republicans in Congress for the failure to report his condition. Rep. Elise Stefanik called for his resignation, stating that it is unacceptable that the Department of Defense waited multiple days to notify the president, the National Security Council, and the American people that Austin was hospitalized and unable to perform his duties.

The White House was not notified of Austin’s hospitalization for days, despite the importance of keeping the president informed of the health and well-being of his cabinet members. This incident raises questions about the communication and transparency within the administration.

The failure to report Austin’s hospitalization to the White House is a significant breach of protocol and could have potential consequences for national security. It is crucial for the White House to be informed of the health and well-being of its cabinet members, especially those in key positions like the Defense Secretary.

The incident also highlights the importance of transparency and communication within the administration. The public has a right to know about the health and well-being of their leaders, and the failure to provide this information can lead to a loss of trust and confidence.

In conclusion, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin’s hospitalization and failure to report his condition to the White House for several days raises questions about communication and transparency within the administration. The incident highlights the importance of keeping the president informed of the health and well-being of his cabinet members and the need for transparency and communication within the administration.

The White House’s response to the situation and the criticism from Republicans in Congress will be closely watched in the coming days. It remains to be seen how this incident will impact Austin’s tenure as Defense Secretary and the administration as a whole.