Current:Home > FinancePentagon review of Lloyd Austin's hospitalization finds no "ill intent" in not disclosing but says processes could be improved-LoTradeCoin
Pentagon review of Lloyd Austin's hospitalization finds no "ill intent" in not disclosing but says processes could be improved
View Date:2024-12-24 00:48:59
An internal review of the transfer of authority during Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin's hospitalization in January found that while processes could be improved, "nothing examined during this review demonstrated any indication of ill intent or an attempt to obfuscate," according to an unclassified summary of the review released by the Pentagon Monday. The rest of the review remains classified.
The three-page unclassified summary in part blames the lack of information sharing on the "unprecedented situation" and says that Austin's staff was trying to respect his medical privacy.
In a memo also released Monday, Austin directed that the review's recommendations be implemented. The review included instructions to develop guidance so that if there is a transfer of authority, the acting secretary is prepared and supported to quickly perform the duties if required.
Austin's chief of staff Kelly Magsamen directed the Defense Department's administration and management director to conduct the 30-day review of whether policies for transferring authority were followed when Austin was admitted to the hospital in January to treat a bladder issue that arose after surgery to treat prostate cancer. The unclassified summary released Monday is the Pentagon's internal review of the episode, but in addition to this, the Defense Department inspector general has also launched an independent review of the handling and disclosure of Austin's hospitalization.
The Pentagon faced a backlash for waiting several days to notify the White House, Congress, and the public of Austin's health.
The summary of the review said that once Austin was transferred to critical care, his military assistants agreed a "transfer of authority" to Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen Hicks was necessary on Jan. 2 and executed the process. Austin entered the hospital on Jan. 1, but neither the deputy nor the White House knew about his hospitalization until Jan. 4.
Congress and the public did not learn that Austin had been hospitalized until Jan. 5.
After his hospitalization became public and he faced criticism for not alerting anyone sooner, Austin said he was responsible for decisions related to disclosure.
In a press conference after he returned to work at the Pentagon, Austin said, "We did not handle this right, and I did not handle this right. I should have told the president about my cancer diagnosis. I should have also told my team and the American public. And I take full responsibility. I apologize to my teammates and to the American people."
Austin is expected to testify Thursday before the House Armed Services Committee about the period when he was in the hospital.
- In:
- Prostate Cancer
- Lloyd Austin
Eleanor Watson is a CBS News reporter covering the Pentagon.
TwitterveryGood! (67)
Related
- Up to 20 human skulls found in man's discarded bags, home in New Mexico
- Closing arguments slated as retrial of ex-NFL star Smith’s killer nears an end
- Clark-mania? A look at how much Iowa basketball star Caitlin Clark's fans spend and travel
- We don't know if Taylor Swift will appear in Super Bowl ads, but here are 13 of her best
- Republican Gabe Evans ousts Democratic US Rep. Yadira Caraveo in Colorado
- Mass graves are still being found, almost 30 years after Rwanda’s genocide, official says
- 3 people found dead inside house in Minneapolis suburb of Coon Rapids after 911 call
- Kenya’s high court rules that deploying nation’s police officers to Haiti is unconstitutional
- Judge weighs the merits of a lawsuit alleging ‘Real Housewives’ creators abused a cast member
- Microsoft Teams outage blocks access and limits features for some users
Ranking
- Knicks Player Ogugua Anunoby Nearly Crashes Into Anne Hathaway and Her Son During NBA Game
- Morgan Wallen's version: Country artist hits back against rumored release of 2014 album
- Missiles targeting a ship off Yemen explode without damage, the UK military says
- Kim Kardashian Reveals If Her Kids Will Take Over Her Beauty Empire
- Tropical Storm Sara threatens to bring flash floods and mudslides to Central America
- A day after Trump testifies, lawyers have final say in E. Jean Carroll defamation trial
- NASA's Mars helicopter, first to fly on another world, ends marathon mission with rotor damage
- Georgia Senate passes a panel with subpoena power to investigate District Attorney Fani Willis
Recommendation
-
Best fits for Corbin Burnes: 6 teams that could match up with Cy Young winner
-
Welcome to USA TODAY Ad Meter 2024: Register to rate the best big game commercials
-
Father-daughter duo finds surprise success with TV channel airing only classics
-
Cyprus government unveils support measures for breakaway Turkish Cypriots ahead of UN envoy’s visit
-
Kim Kardashian Says She's Raising Her and Kanye West's 4 Kids By Herself
-
Inmate overpowers deputy at hospital, flees to nearby home before fatally shooting himself
-
Lauren Boebert’s ex-husband charged after 2 domestic incidents
-
NJ Transit scraps plan for gas-fired backup power plant, heartening environmental justice advocates