Central ND News

In a recent development that has raised concerns among lawmakers, it was revealed that the Department of Defense (DOD) failed to inform key officials and members of Congress about Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin's recent hospitalization. Senator Kevin Cramer, along with Senator Roger Wicker and every Republican member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, has written a letter to Secretary Austin, expressing their concerns and requesting answers regarding the breakdown in communication.

Secretary Austin was admitted to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center on January 1, 2024, for complications arising from a surgery he had undergone in December to treat prostate cancer. He has been in the hospital's intensive care unit and has yet to be discharged. However, neither the White House's National Security Council nor members of Congress were informed about his hospitalization.

The senators' letter highlights the significance of this communication failure between the Pentagon, the White House, and elected officials. They have requested a detailed timeline of events related to Secretary Austin's hospitalization and information on how the DOD delegated his duties and responsibilities to his subordinates during his absence.

The letter also points out the absence of Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen Hicks, who was on vacation in Puerto Rico at the time of Secretary Austin's hospitalization. Furthermore, Derek Chollet, the nominee for the position of Undersecretary of Defense for Policy, has not yet been confirmed by the Senate. This leadership vacuum, combined with ongoing conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine, has raised apprehension among the senators and necessitates oversight to prevent a recurrence of such a situation.

The senators criticize the DOD for its failure to promptly notify the President, Congress, and the Comptroller General of the United States about Secretary Austin's incapacitation. They argue that this contravenes the requirements of the Federal Vacancies Reform Act of 1998. The senators also express their dissatisfaction with the failure to notify Secretary Austin's lawful successor during his absence, which they consider a significant breach of trust with the American people, particularly at a critical moment for national security.

The senators conclude their letter by calling on the administration to provide answers regarding compliance with the Federal Vacancies Reform Act. They assert that, according to their interpretation of the statute, Deputy Secretary Hicks, as the acting department head, should have immediately reported both the vacancy and her acting service to Congress. However, the Department of Defense only notified Congress four days later, after the vacancy had already ended.

This letter highlights the concerns of lawmakers regarding the breakdown in communication surrounding Secretary Austin's hospitalization. It calls for transparency and accountability from the Department of Defense and emphasizes the need to ensure that such lapses in communication are not repeated in the future.

To learn more, click on this link: https://www.cramer.senate.gov/news/press-releases/sen-cramer-colleagues-express-concerns-request-answers-on-secretary-austins-recent-hospitalization