Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin kept his hospitalization a secret while on medication that could affect his judgment, prompting a Pentagon watchdog to warn of increased security risks.
Key Facts:
• Lloyd Austin was hospitalized on January 1, 2024, following complications from prostate cancer surgery in December.
• He remained in intensive care the next day and took medication that could alter cognitive functions.
• Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen Hicks and President Joe Biden were not informed in a timely manner.
• Inspector General Robert Storch found no damage to national security but said risks were “increased unnecessarily.”
• President-elect Donald Trump later called for Austin to be “fired immediately.”
The Rest of The Story:
Austin experienced serious health issues shortly after a procedure in December, forcing him to enter a hospital on January 1.
According to the Pentagon’s watchdog, Austin initially chose not to let key officials know about his situation and stayed in command while under medication that could weaken alertness.
He waited several days before telling Deputy Secretary Kathleen Hicks and President Joe Biden about his condition, which caused concern behind the scenes.
On January 2, while in an intensive care unit, Austin took medication that doctors said might interfere with his ability to think clearly.
Records show that he allowed Hicks to take over some tasks that day, but she had no idea he was hospitalized until two days later.
Inspector General Storch noted that this was not how the chain of command should operate during a critical moment.
Texts between Austin’s chief of staff, Kelly Magsamen, and another aide revealed anxiety that the defense secretary’s health status was not being shared properly.
Magsamen wrote that Austin’s job carried a large public responsibility, even as Austin expressed concerns about causing a media firestorm.
Although there were no immediate incidents tied to his hidden hospitalization, questions arose about whether senior officials, the president, and Congress should have been involved sooner.
Commentary:
What Lloyd Austin did goes beyond any acceptable standard for someone in such a high position.
His decision to hide critical health details while overseeing national security is a failure in judgment that reflects poorly on the Biden administration’s leadership as a whole.
Austin is a disgraced Secretary of Defense, and his actions prove the Biden team has no respect for clear, open communication with the public.
Good riddance to the Biden people.
Our nation needs leaders who will be honest and transparent, and we cannot wait until next Monday, when President-elect Donald Trump takes over and restores confidence in the Pentagon.
The Bottom Line:
Despite no reported harm to major operations, the watchdog says this event put the nation at risk more than necessary.
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Austin’s decision to hide his condition left both allies and opponents uncertain about who was actually in charge at the time.
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