Secretary Austin’s secret hospitalizations have “unnecessarily” increased U.S. national security risks, a report says

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin’s clandestine hospitalizations “unnecessarily” increased America’s national security risk, according to a new report from the U.S. Department of Defense’s Office of Inspector General (OIG).

The Pentagon watchdog’s damning 188-page report examines the secretary’s hospitalizations in December 2023, January 2024 and February 2024 and blames Austin’s team for miscommunications and lapses in delegation of authority.

The OIG noted that Austin’s “strong desire for privacy about his medical condition” played a major role in the breakdown of communications within the Pentagon and between the Defense Department, the White House and Congress.

Neither Austin’s chief of staff nor Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen Hicks knew about his cancer diagnosis or the procedure he underwent in December 2023. In fact, OIG notes that “almost all of its employees” were unaware of Austin’s medical condition and treatments.

DR. MARC SIEGEL: PATIENT PRIVACY DOES NOT APPLY TO LLOYD AUSTIN’S SECRET HOSPITAL STAY

Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin pauses while speaking during a media briefing at the Pentagon on November 17, 2021 in Washington, DC (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

Allegedly, the evidence also suggests that on January 1, 2024, when Austin was taken to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center for “severe” pain, he instructed the ambulance not to use lights or sirens. Additionally, according to the report, Austin asked his personal security guard not to inform anyone about the incident.

“No one on Secretary Austin’s staff knew how serious his condition was, including when his condition worsened and he was transferred to the surgical intensive care unit on January 2,” the OIG stated in its report.

On January 3, 2024, Austin’s chief of staff Kelly Magsamen texted the secretary’s junior military assistant, who was in the hospital with the secretary at the time. In her message, Magsamen called on the secretary to speak more openly about his condition.

“I wish (Secretary Austin) was a normal person, but he is the (Secretary of Defense). We have a great institutional responsibility. He can’t just completely eclipse his staff. …Please tell him we can’t keep him.” His hospitalization will forever remain a secret. It is a big deal for him to be in the ICU,” Magsamen wrote, according to the OIG report.

U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin testifies before a House Defense Committee hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, on February 29, 2024, saying that he did not disclose his cancer diagnosis and that he was hospitalized. (Reuters/Evelyn Hockstein)

The OIG also found that on February 11, 2024, when Austin was unexpectedly hospitalized again, he was not released to his authorities until several hours later. Regarding this incident, the OIG found that Austin’s authorities should have been relocated “hours earlier than ultimately occurred” “given the severity of his condition.”

Following its review, the OIG made 20 recommendations to DOD to “improve processes” and advised the department to implement them immediately.

PENTAGON PUBLISHES SUMMARY OF AUSTIN HOSPITAL REVIEW

Inspector General Robert Storch said in a statement: “While the Department of Defense has taken some important steps to address these concerns, further improvements are needed to ensure readiness, transparency and mission accomplishment. These improvements are not just an administrative necessity.” ; they are an operational and national security imperative.”

Ultimately, the report found that the Defense Department did not have a “comprehensive” plan for handing over duties in the event of the minister’s absence.

After the report’s release, a senior defense official admitted to reporters that Austin had “made a mistake” and stressed that “there was no scandal” and “there was no cover-up.” The official also noted that “either the Secretary of Defense or the Deputy Secretary of Defense was fully prepared to support the President at any time.”

Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin testifies during a House Defense Committee hearing on his recent hospitalization and communication issues with President Biden at the Rayburn Building on February 29, 2024. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)

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Austin acknowledged his office’s shortcomings in a press conference in February 2024 shortly after the hospitalizations were announced.

“I want to be very clear. We didn’t handle it right, and I didn’t handle it right,” Austin said at the time about his previous hospitalization. “I should have told the president about my cancer diagnosis. I should have told my team and the American public too, and I take full responsibility. I apologize to my teammates and the American people.”

Liz Friden contributed to this report.