WASHINGTON
The Pentagon said Monday that it is reviewing its notification procedures after keeping Congress and the White House in the dark about Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin’s hospitalization for the better part of a week.
Spokesperson Patrick Ryder told reporters that the Defense Department is examining how it can revise its notification processes “to include White House and congressional notifications” amid the ongoing scandal.
“The bottom line is we know we can do better, and we will do better,” he said.
Austin remains hospitalized at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland after undergoing an elective medical procedure on Dec. 22. He was released the following day and worked from home during the holidays but experienced what Ryder called “severe pain” on Jan. 1.
He was then taken back to Walter Reed by ambulance, where he was admitted to the intensive care unit.
“He was conscious but in quite a bit of pain,” said Ryder.
He did not disclose either the operation that Austin underwent or the current ailment from which he is suffering but acknowledged that Austin transferred his authority to Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen Hicks on Jan. 2 “on the basis of medical advice.”
The White House was not notified until Jan. 4, a delay that Ryder attributed to Austin’s chief of staff being out sick with the flu. The Pentagon did not publicly acknowledge Austin’s hospitalization until Friday after 5 p.m. Austin resumed his full responsibilities as defense secretary on Jan. 5.
Austin remains at Walter Reed and has been transferred out of the intensive care unit as he recovers “in a more private area of the hospital.” He “continues to experience discomfort, but his prognosis is good,” Ryder said.
Noting that Austin has resumed his duties since Friday, Ryder said the defense secretary spoke on Monday with Hicks and National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan in separate phone calls. He also took an operational update from US Central Command commander Gen. Erik Kurilla along with Hicks and Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Charles Brown Jr., according to Ryder.
“We do not have a specific date for his release from the hospital at this time but will continue to provide daily updates until then,” he added.
The White House earlier Monday said President Joe Biden has no plans to remove Austin from his post despite the ongoing row.
“There is no plan or anything other than for Secretary Austin to stay in the job and continue in the leadership that he’s been demonstrating,” National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby told a news briefing aboard Air Force One en route to South Carolina.
Kirby said Biden’s number one focus is on Austin’s health and recovery and that “he looks forward to having him back at the Pentagon as soon as possible.”
“He also respects the amazing job he’s done as defense secretary and how he’s handled multiple crises over the last almost two years now,” he added.
