GOP senators express outrage over a "startling breakdown" regarding the undisclosed hospitalization of Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin. Senator Tom Cotton demands an explanation for the delayed notification to the White House and senior officials about Austin's hospitalization earlier in the week. Austin was admitted to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center on Monday for complications from an elective procedure, with the Pentagon citing medical and privacy reasons for not immediately informing the public or key government figures.
Senator Roger Wicker condemns the Defense Department's secrecy as a "shocking defiance of the law" and calls for transparency. Wicker questions the Biden administration's repeated failures to inform the public promptly about critical events, stating that members of Congress should be briefed on the full facts immediately.
During Austin's hospitalization, Deputy Secretary Kathleen Hicks assumed some of his duties, but the National Security Council and President Biden were not notified until Thursday. Congress only learned about it on Friday, just before a public statement was released. The delayed notification has sparked criticism, even from within the Pentagon, with the Pentagon Press Association expressing significant concerns about the lack of transparency.
Austin, who was in intensive care after an undisclosed elective surgery, thanks the doctors at Walter Reed and acknowledges media concerns about transparency. He commits to doing better in keeping the public informed but emphasizes that the decision about disclosure was his responsibility.
Wicker insists that leaders deserve an explanation for the breakdown in the notification process, questioning why Austin's status was withheld from the National Security Council and the extent of his incapacitation. The delayed announcement has fueled frustration, especially considering the challenging international security situations the Biden administration is dealing with at the moment.
The Pentagon Press Association criticizes the Defense Department for its failure to promptly inform the public and the media about Austin's hospitalization, describing it as an outrage. The timing of the announcement, late on a Friday evening, adds to the controversy.
Against the backdrop of U.S. involvement in various international conflicts and security challenges, including tensions with Iran-backed groups, the delayed disclosure of Austin's hospitalization raises concerns about the government's ability to effectively manage and communicate critical events.
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