The hospitalization of Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin was kept under such wraps that not even Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks knew what was going on when she had to assume his duties — a new report reveals.
Austin’s lack of transparency has been the subject of major scrutiny due to the news that he was hospitalized last week due to complications from an elective medical procedure. Biden administration officials were reportedly kept in the dark for more than three days. And now, according to defense officials who spoke with CNN, not only was President Joe Biden unaware of Austin’s condition, so too was Kathleen Hicks— despite her being the third person on the U.S. Military’s chain of command.
From the report:
Pentagon Press Secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder told CNN on Sunday that Austin transferred “certain operational responsibilities that require constant secure communications capabilities” to Hicks on January 2, the day after he was admitted to Walter Reed. Throughout last week, Hicks made “some routine operational and management decisions” for the Pentagon and was authorized to support the
president.But Hicks, who was on vacation in Puerto Rico at the time, was not informed of Austin’s hospitalization until the afternoon of January 4, the defense officials said. Ryder told CNN that it is “not uncommon” for the secretary to transfer certain responsibilities without providing a specific reason as to why such a transfer is needed.
The development reportedly prompted Hicks to head back to Washington, “but because Austin was expected to return to his full duties —- albeit from the hospital — on Friday, she decided to stay in Puerto Rico to ensure continuity of communications.”
“There are all of these people around the secretary at all times, who manage him and help him on a day-to-day basis, and no one had the wherewithal to even tell the White House?” A Pentagon official told CNN. “I’m surprised no one is using the word ‘cover-up’ yet.”
The details remain unclear regarding the nature of Austin’s procedure and whether he was ever left incapacitated during the complications. Austin has put out a statement insisting that his condition is improving, also acknowledging the problems caused by his failure to disclose his medical status.