The Pentagon Inspector General released a transparency report before the end of the term.
The Office of the Pentagon Inspector General released its report on Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin’s secretive hospital visits this week, finding that the decision “unnecessarily” increased national security risks. The report was finalized after the office examined over 56 million pieces of data during its year-long review.
Secretary Austin spent three extended stays in the hospital between December 2023 and January 2024, which he chose to keep secret from national security officials for several days. During those times, the report found that the secretary underwent “moderate anesthesia” without transferring his power temporarily in case of emergency.
“The ability for the DoD and the government to operate seamlessly and the continuity of leadership under any and all circumstances are fundamental to our national security,” Inspector General Robert Storch stated. “Although we found no adverse consequences to DoD operations arising from how the hospitalizations we reviewed were handled, the risks to our national defense, including the command and control of the DoD’s critical national security operations, were increased unnecessarily.”
As the Lord Leads, Pray with Us…
- For health for the defense secretary as he prepares to leave office.
- For President-elect Trump’s Defense Secretary nominee Pete Hegseth as he completes the Senate confirmation process.
- For the Senate Armed Forces Committee as they finish their examination of the nominee.
Sources: CNN, USA Today
