Secretary Austin acknowledges concerns about transparency.
The Pentagon announced Friday evening that Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin had been admitted to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center on New Year’s Day “for complications following a recent elective medical procedure.“ The procedure had been done before Christmas, and the defense secretary experienced “severe pain“ last Monday.
Senator Roger Wicker of Mississippi, ranking member on the Senate Armed Services Committee, called the Defense Department’s lack of transparency “unacceptable“ and Senator Tom Cotton of Arkansas expressed concerns over reports that President Biden and the National Security Council were not informed for several days that Secretary Austin was hospitalized and unable to perform his duties.
On Saturday, the defense secretary stated, “I also understand the media concerns about transparency and I recognize I could have done a better job ensuring the public was appropriately informed. I commit to doing better. But this is important to say: this was my medical procedure, and I take full responsibility for my decisions about disclosure.“
Pentagon Press Secretary Major General Pat Ryder stated Sunday that “Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III remains hospitalized at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center but is recovering well and in good spirits.“
As the Lord Leads, Pray with Us…
- For healing for Secretary Austin and that he and his staff would be discerning about disclosures regarding his fitness to fill his role.
- For the president and National Security Council as they consider the defense secretary’s convalescence.
- For members of Congress as they respond to the lack of transparency surrounding Secretary Austin’s hospitalization.
Sources: Department of Defense, CNN, Townhall
