Elise Stefanik Grills Lloyd Austin Over Hospitalization Controversy: ‘What Disciplinary Action Would a Junior Service Member Face?’

Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY) grilled Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin during a Thursday House hearing centered on Austin’s recent hospitalization and his failure to report it for days.

Austin was hospitalized in January to treat a cancer diagnosis and he was transferred to intensive care without President Joe Biden or other key administration leaders knowing his status for days.

At Thursday’s hearing, Austin admitted to a “breakdown in notifications” and promised reforms to his office that would help with messaging and communication. He said he takes full responsibility for the incident.

Like other Republican lawmakers, Stefanik honed in on Austin’s hospital stay and the fact that he and Biden spent days without direct communication, something Austin insisted is typical due to travel schedules.

“Let me ask you this, what disciplinary action would a junior service member face if he or she failed to properly notify their chain of command and failed to report for duty?” Stefanik asked Austin.

“If a service member was in a hospital, I think the chain of command would be concerned about why they were in a hospital and make sure that they’re doing the right thing to take care of them and their family,” Austin said.

Stefanik pushed further, asking whether it’s the responsibility of a soldier to notify their commanding officer about something like a hospitalization.

“I think, uh —” Austin began.

“The answer’s yes,” Stefanik said, cutting in.

“It’s possible, yes,” Austin said. “In my case, I would expect that my organization would do the right things to notify senior leaders if I am the patient in the hospital.”

Stefanik called Austin’s actions “unacceptable.”

Earlier in the hearing, Rep. Jim Banks (R-IN) told Austin he’d “embarrassed” the United States and asked if he was “surprised” Biden did not ask for his resignation.

“The president has expressed full faith and confidence in me,” Austin said.

Watch above via C-SPAN.