Under pressure from criticism, the Pentagon reveals details of its chief’s secret internment

After hiding Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin’s hospitalization in intensive care from President Joe Biden and the entire White House for four days, the Pentagon has released new details on the hospitalization, while criticism continues for the opacity of the procedure. Former President Donald Trump used the issue politically and called for the official’s resignation.

The Pentagon now says Austin underwent medical surgery on Dec. 22 for an undisclosed minor condition, went home the next day and was admitted to intensive care on Jan. 1. when he began to feel severe pain.

This new data, under the general secrecy of the matter, is being released after members of both parties in Congress expressed deep concern over the deliberate concealment of Austin’s hospital stay and that President Biden and other top officials They were kept in the dark for days at a critical moment in the war in Gaza and Ukraine.

However, the statement, released by Air Force Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder, did not provide any details about the medical procedure or what actually happened on Monday to request that Austin be in intensive care at Walter Reed Army Medical Center.

Ryan said Austin was admitted to the hospital’s intensive care unit “due to his medical needs, but then remained there partly for reasons of hospital space and privacy.”

The Pentagon’s failure to disclose Austin’s hospitalization for days, not even to President Biden, the National Security Council and top Pentagon leaders, reflects a surprising lack of transparency about his illnessits severity and when it might be released.

Such secrecy, as the United States juggles countless national security crises, goes against normal practice for the president and other top American officials and cabinet members.

Ryder told the National Security Council and Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks They were not informed until Thursday, January 4 that Austin had been hospitalized since January 1.

National security adviser Jack Sullivan briefed Biden on Thursday about Austin’s medical hospitalization, according to three people familiar with the hospitalization who were not authorized to speak publicly and spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity.

In a statement released Saturday evening, Austin took responsibility for the notification delays.

“I recognize that I could have done a better job ensuring the public was adequately informed. “I am committed to doing better,” she said, acknowledging concerns about transparency. “But it is important to say this: This was my medical procedure and I take full responsibility for my decisions regarding disclosure.”

Austin, 70, remains hospitalized and officials were unable to say how long he will remain at Walter Reed. In his statement, Austin said he is recovering and hopes to return to the Pentagon soon, but provided no other details about his illness.

Sen. Roger Wicker, the ranking Republican on the Senate Armed Services Committee, said the episode undermines confidence in the Biden administration and called on the department to provide lawmakers with a “full explanation of the facts immediately.”

“I am happy to hear that Secretary Austin is in better condition and wish him a speedy recovery,” Wicker said in a statement. “However, the fact is that the Department of Defense deliberately concealed the Secretary of Defense’s medical condition for days. “This is unacceptable.”

It’s not just Republicans who are expressing alarm. In a joint statement, Reps. Mike Rogers, R-Alabama, and Adam Smith, D-Wash., said they were “concerned about how the disclosure of the secretary’s status was handled.”

“Transparency is vital”the two lawmakers said. “Austin “should provide these additional details about his health and the decision-making process that took place last week as soon as possible.”

The Pentagon Press Association, which represents Defense Department journalists, sent a letter of protest Friday evening, highlighting the delay in alerting the public as “an outrage”.

“At a time when there are growing threats to the American military in the Middle East and when the U.S plays key national security roles in the wars in Israel and Ukraine, It is especially important that the American public is informed about their health. and the decision-making capacity of its top defense leader,” the group said in its letter.

This Monday, Donald Trump once again attacked the Biden administration and called for the Secretary of Defense to be fired for hiding his hospitalization. “inappropriate professional conduct,” he fired.

“The failed Secretary of Defense, Lloyd Austin – Trump wrote on his social network Truth – should be fired immediately for inappropriate professional conduct and failure to fulfill one’s duties. “He disappeared for a week and no one, including his boss, the corrupt Joe Biden, had any idea where he was or could be,” the Republican mogul said.

But President Biden has no plans to fire the defense secretary for hiding his hospitalization for three days. An anonymous official announced this.

“Austin will remain in place and continue the work he has done so far,” US National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said later.

According to ABC News, President Biden was ‘exasperated’” for not being informed more quickly of the Defense Minister’s ongoing hospitalization, which was only revealed publicly at the end of last week, after several days.

There will reportedly be a review of the unusual way Austin’s medical care was disclosed, and someone could lose their job. The White House publicly supports Austin, an administration official said ABC News that Biden “has full confidence in Secretary Austin” and “looks forward to his return to the Pentagon.”

Source Associated Press, ANSA and Clarín