Secretary Austin sits next to President Biden (left) during a press conference
Reuters on January 9 quoted White House spokesman Patrick Ryder as saying that US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin was hospitalized on December 22, 2023 and did not notify the White House.
According to the report, Mr. Austin (71 years old) was hospitalized overnight under an undisclosed medical procedure that forced him to transfer some authority to his deputy Kathleen Kicks. Mr. Ryder said the White House was also not informed about the hospitalization.
The news came amid widespread speculation that Austin was hospitalized on January 1 without informing the White House.
However, a White House official said President Joe Biden is not considering firing Secretary Austin for not reporting his hospitalization. In addition, the official said it was unclear whether Mr. Austin was unconscious during the past few days in the hospital.
President Biden's administration is trying to calm a wave of political outrage sparked by reports that he was unaware that the defense secretary had been in the hospital for several days.
US Defense Secretary hospitalized for complications after minor surgery
Mr Austin's role requires him to be available at a moment's notice in the event of a national security emergency.
Several prominent Republicans, including former President Donald Trump, have called for Mr Austin's dismissal.
However, the Pentagon said Secretary Austin had no plans to resign and the White House said the president had no intention of firing him.
Secretary Austin remains at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center near Washington DC, where he was taken by ambulance on New Year's Day and admitted to the intensive care unit for unknown reasons.
The Pentagon said Mr. Austin continued to conduct business while hospitalized. He had calls on January 8 with National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan, Gen. Erik Kurilla, the head of US military forces in the Middle East, and other senior national security officials.
“There is no other plan than for Secretary Austin to remain in his position,” said National Security Council spokesman John Kirby.
'Not again'
Former President Trump, a potential Republican presidential candidate in 2024, said Mr Austin should be fired for "professional misconduct and dereliction of duty".
“He has been missing for a week and no one, including his boss, has a clue where he is or where he could be,” Trump said.
Austin's position is second only to the president in the US military's chain of command. His duties require him to be available immediately to respond to any form of national security crisis.
The Pentagon said Mr Austin spoke with Democratic Senator Jack Reed, chairman of the US Senate Armed Services Committee, over the weekend.
In a statement released on January 8, Mr. Reed expressed concern and said that "this lack of transparency must not be repeated." "I am closely monitoring the situation and the Department of Defense is aware of my interest in any and all relevant information," Mr. Reed said.
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