During a Senate hearing on Tuesday, Defense Secretary <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/lloyd-austin" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Lloyd Austin</a> pushed back against claims of a genocide being committed in <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/gaza" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Gaza</a>, where <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/israel" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Israel</a> is fighting <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/hamas" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Hamas terrorists.</a>
Sen. <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/tom-cotton" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Tom Cotton</a> (R-AR) asked Austin to give a response to activists, some of whom have <a href="https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/protesters-interrupt-secretary-of-defense-lloyd-austin-as-news-photo/2148025292?adppopup=true" target="_blank" rel="noopener">accused</a> the defense secretary himself of facilitating <a href="https://twitter.com/answercoalition/status/1739271658655932696" target="_blank" rel="noopener">genocide</a>, after he testified that Hamas has been committing war crimes by using civilians as human shields.
&#8220;We don&#8217;t have any evidence of genocide being created,&#8221; Austin said. When pressed to address whether Israel specifically is committing genocide, he added, &#8220;We don&#8217;t have evidence of that, to my knowledge.&#8221;
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COTTON: &quot;Address protestors: Is Israel committing genocide in Gaza?&quot; AUSTIN: &quot;We don&#39;t have any evidence of genocide being created&quot; &quot;So that&#39;s a no. Israel is not committing genocide in Gaza&quot; &quot;We don&#39;t have evidence of that&quot; &quot;Better than Dir. Burns and Dir. Haines did last month&quot; <a href="https://t.co/cdWd5Ue3hZ">pic.twitter.com/cdWd5Ue3hZ</a>
&mdash; Howard Mortman (@HowardMortman) <a href="https://twitter.com/HowardMortman/status/1777716557017162126?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 9, 2024</a></blockquote>
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Cotton credited Austin with doing &#8220;better&#8221; than CIA Director William Burns and Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines when they <a href="https://www.c-span.org/video/?534027-1/senate-select-intelligence-committee-hearing-global-threats" target="_blank" rel="noopener">testified</a> last month. When asked if Israel was &#8220;exterminating&#8221; the Palestinians, neither Burns nor Haines answered the question directly.
Israeli forces have been fighting Hamas in the Gaza Strip for more than six months after Hamas launched an attack on Israel in October that killed roughly 1,200 people. Some on the Left, including Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), <a href="https://www.politico.com/news/2024/04/08/israel-gaza-war-elizabeth-warren-00151120" target="_blank" rel="noopener">claim</a> the war has escalated to the point of genocide.
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Austin stressed that the United States has been &#8220;committed to help assist Israel in defending its territory and its people by providing security assistance.&#8221; The defense secretary also said he &#8220;absolutely&#8221; denied accusations that he personally has facilitated genocide.
The United States continues to <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2024/03/29/us-weapons-israel-gaza-war/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">supply weapons</a> to Israel, but the White House announced last week that President Joe Biden <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2024/04/04/readout-of-president-joe-bidens-call-with-prime-minister-netanyahu-of-israel-3/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">told</a> Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that further U.S. assistance would depend on steps taken to protect aid workers and civilians.
In the face of growing pushback from Biden over the campaign, as well as a <a href="https://www.npr.org/2024/03/25/1240669997/united-nations-security-council-cease-fire-resolution-gaza-israel-war" target="_blank" rel="noopener">demand</a> by the United Nations for a ceasefire, Netanyahu said on Sunday there would be <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/world/israel-withdraws-all-ground-troops-southern-gaza-leaving-one-idf-brigade-enclave" target="_blank" rel="noopener">no ceasefire</a> until all the remaining <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/idf-pulls-ground-troops-from-southern-gaza-stresses-war-is-not-over-until-hostages-are-free" target="_blank" rel="noopener">hostages are free</a>.
Austin <a href="https://twitter.com/SecDef/status/1777494200021369121" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> in a post to X on Monday that he spoke with Israeli Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant to discuss the &#8220;urgent need&#8221; to improve humanitarian assistance delivery to Gaza and protect aid workers. The secretary also said he &#8220;affirmed U.S. support to Israel in the face of Iranian threats.&#8221;

Lloyd Austin, US secretary of defense

Defense Secretary Austin Shoots Down Claims Of Genocide In Gaza

Department of Defense

Gaza

genocide

Global Politics

Hamas

Israel

Lloyd Austin

Pentagon

Politics

Tom Cotton

Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) wants the U.S. Military Academy at West Point to defend its decision to drop its traditional mission statement of “Duty, Honor, Country,&#8221; according to a letter obtained by The Daily Wire.
Blackburn questioned the academy&#8217;s superintendent on its decision to <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/west-point-removes-duty-honor-country-from-mission-statement-replaces-with-army-values">replace the old statement</a> with the phrase &#8220;Army values,&#8221; which she said “represents a vague subjective that can be changed time and again based on cultural and personal preference.”
“The mission statement of West Point has long been a beacon of inspiration for many prospective officers, reflecting the Academy&#8217;s commitment to producing leaders of character who are called to serve our nation,” the Senator from Tennessee wrote in a letter to Lt. Gen Steve Gilland. “Cadets have long been inspired by the notion of &#8216;Duty, Honor, Country,&#8217; a phrase that has become synonymous with the Academy itself.”
“Our military institutions should always have one goal – developing principled leaders and lethal warriors,” Blackburn asserted. “The principles that have led generations of soldiers should not be erased to appeal to the cultural moment.”
Blackburn went on to note that the military has become sidetracked by the diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) agenda while foreign adversaries plot against America. “More, as Russia, China, Iran and North Korea continue to test the will of the United States, West Point recently held its largest diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) conference. While the U.S. military has been focused on DEI initiatives, our adversaries are plotting against us.”
The Senator’s letter comes as the military has doubled down on DEI initiatives, with the Air Force Academy recently <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/air-force-academy-highlights-transgender-officer-at-leadership-summit">hosting</a> a transgender military member who pushed a “transgender day of visibility” in the military.
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WATCH🎥: The U.S. Air Force Academy hosted a transgender Pentagon official for a symposium on inclusion. Our military is focused on transgender dogma while wars rage on two continents. 
Here he is at a pride celebration calling for &quot;intentional inclusivity&quot; in the military 🧵 <a href="https://t.co/6BAbEwrS4j">pic.twitter.com/6BAbEwrS4j</a>
&mdash; Spencer Lindquist 🇺🇸 (@SpencerLndqst) <a href="https://twitter.com/SpencerLndqst/status/1763327970893254985?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 29, 2024</a></blockquote>
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The Pentagon has spent as much as <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/bidens-pentagon-slated-to-spend-nearly-270-million-on-diversity-agenda">$270 million on the DEI agenda</a> under the Biden administration, while the country’s most powerful intelligence agencies have pushed <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/exclusive-leaked-nsa-doc-reveals-massive-woke-glossary-pushing-critical-race-theory-gender-ideology-on-govt-employees">Critical Race Theory</a> and leftwing beliefs on <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/bidens-top-intelligence-agency-says-crossdressing-makes-man-better-intelligence-officer-internal-docs-show">gender</a>.
Blackburn also posed a number of questions to Lt. Gen Steve Gilland, requesting that he respond no later than April 1st. “Who are you referring to when you say you worked with ‘external stakeholders’ on this change?” she asked, as well as “What do you say to those concerned that ‘Army Values’ can be broadly interpreted to fit the ever-changing cultural climate?”
“In your view, how does the updated mission statement better align with the timeless principles and values that West Point has upheld for generations?” she went on to ask.

Sen. Marsha Blackburn

EXCLUSIVE: Blackburn Drills West Point For Ditching ‘Duty, Honor, Country’ In Mission Statement

Diversity Equity and Inclusion (DEI)

Marsha Blackburn

Military

President Joe Biden is deploying the U.S. military to Gaza to build a pier so that millions of meals can be delivered to the Palestinians every day.
The move by Biden comes as he seeks to quell opposition from far-left Democrats and Muslim voters in the U.S. who are angry that he has not done more to support Palestinians after Palestinian Islamic terrorists with Hamas murdered 1,200 people inside Israel during their unprecedented October 7 terrorist attacks. Palestinian civilians, <a href="https://freebeacon.com/national-security/children-as-young-as-10-took-part-in-hamass-oct-7-terror-attack-survivors-say/">including children</a>, participated in the terrorist attack and <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/overwhelming-majority-of-palestinians-support-terrorism-against-jews-hate-u-s-middle-east-poll">polling has shown</a> that Palestinians overwhelmingly support terrorist attacks against Jews and hate the United States.
Pentagon press secretary Maj. Gen. Patrick Ryder said on Friday that the &#8220;emergency mission to establish a temporary pier in Gaza&#8221; could take months to construct and involve up to 1,000 soldiers.
The Department of Defense has tasked the 7th Transportation Brigade Expeditionary out of Joint Base Langley Eustis in Virginia to deploy its Joint Logistics Over-The-Shore (JLOTS) capability to provide an expeditionary pier to enable the delivery of &#8220;more than 2 million meals to the citizens of Gaza per day,&#8221; Ryder said.
Ryder claimed that the pier would be &#8220;offshore&#8221; and would allow &#8220;for shipping vessels to transfer cargo to smaller vessels to transport and offload cargo to a temporary causeway for the delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza.&#8221;
&#8220;Importantly, there will be no U.S. forces on the ground in Gaza,&#8221; Ryder claimed. &#8220;The concept that is being planned involves the presence of U.S. military personnel on military vessels offshore, but does not require U.S. military personnel to go ashore. In terms of security on the ground, we&#8217;re continuing to plan and coordinate with partners in the region. And as for aid distribution, we&#8217;ll have more details in the future. But we are coordinating with ally and partner nations, the U.N. and humanitarian NGOs on the way ahead for distribution of assistance into Gaza.&#8221;

Combined Joint Logistics Over-the-Shore 2015

Biden Deploying Up To 1,000 Troops To Gaza To Provide Millions Of Meals Per Day To Palestinians

Joe Biden

Palestinians

The United States Air Force Academy showcased a transgender-identifying activist and military service member who seeks to embed far-left gender ideology in the armed forces for a speech on leadership and inclusion.
Lieutenant Colonel Bree Fram, an engineer with the United States Space Force and activist for transgenderism in the military, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1NGVPO9m75k">spoke</a> at the National Character and Leadership Symposium, the theme of which was “Embrace Culture, Empower People.” The military official <a href="https://www.breefram.com/about-me.html">states</a> that he is a co-leader of the Department of the Air Force LGBTQ+ Initiatives Team, which he says is “dedicated to eliminating barriers to LGBTQ+ military service in the Air and Space Force.”
Fram was introduced at the Air Force Academy event as “one of the highest-ranking out transgender officers in the United States military” and a “featured speaker on leadership, diversity, and inclusion.” He is also an activist on behalf of transgenderism, previously serving as the <a href="https://spartapride.org/bree-fram/#:~:text=A%20member%20of%20SPARTA%20since,and%20resides%20in%20Northern%20Virginia.">president</a> of SPARTA, “a non-profit that advocates and educates about transgender military service.”
“Inclusion takes action, inclusion requires asking, inclusion requires understanding, and it is more work, it is a lot more work for a leader but I need you to be willing to do it,” Fram said to the crowd while wearing a patch on his uniform bearing a rainbow flag. “In the future, we are going to fight and win war with brain power, and if those brains happen to be in a trans body … you should want them serving alongside you. Because they might be the ones that revolutionize the way we fight in space, in cyber or in any other domain of war.”
The speech comes as the Pentagon has promoted a leftwing agenda, asking for a <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/bidens-pentagon-slated-to-spend-nearly-270-million-on-diversity-agenda">whopping $114 million</a> in fiscal year 2024 alone to fund diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts such as “unconscious bias diversity training,” and “training programs and diversity and inclusion initiatives,” a Daily Wire investigation revealed. The Air Force&#8217;s <a href="https://www.jbmdl.jb.mil/Portals/47/LIT%20Fact%20sheet.pdf?ver=yIWVbsIH_nfCsiS1C5XPFw%3D%3D">LGBT Initiatives Team</a>, which Fram has helped lead, has also pushed leftwing ideology in the military, <a href="https://www.edwards.af.mil/News/AFMC-News/Air-Force-Features/Article/2979991/daf-recognizes-transgender-day-of-visibility/">celebrating transgender day of visibility.</a>
The far-left ideological capture of America’s military coincides with an unprecedented recruiting crisis, with the Air Force, the Army, and the Navy all <a href="https://www.wavy.com/news/military/u-s-military-sees-record-breaking-low-recruitment-numbers/#:~:text=The%20Department%20of%20Defense%20(DOD,%2C%20Navy%2C%20and%20Air%20Force.">missing their recruiting goals</a> in fiscal year 2023 and a <a href="https://thefederalist.com/2024/01/12/white-men-dont-want-to-join-an-army-that-tells-them-they-arent-wanted/">particularly sharp decline</a> in white recruits. Republican officials have <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/video/6336706614112">warned</a> that the politicization of the military could be alienating citizens who would otherwise consider joining the armed forces.
But despite concerns that the far-left agenda might be dissuading potential recruits, Fram went on to ask those with leadership positions in the military to support leftwing agendas, showing a slide that says military members can “be allies by standing with and supporting marginalized communities … and advocates by speaking out and raising awareness on issues.”
He also appeared to express concern over the potential reelection of former President Donald Trump.
“While I don’t have a crystal ball, I can look out and say, &#8216;Well, either next year things will be great or I will be fighting for my ability to continue serving,'&#8221; Fram said.
After publication of this story, an Air Force spokesman said the academy &#8220;was fortunate to have Col Bree Fram speak.&#8221;
&#8220;Her talk reinforced the value of diversity within our military and the importance of removing unnecessary barriers to service,&#8221; the spokesman said. &#8220;Col Fram has had a distinguished career in both the U.S. Air Force and the U.S. Space Force and has used her experience and leadership to support our warfighting mission as well as inclusion within the Armed Forces.&#8221;
The spokesperson also stated that it is the official position of the Air Force Academy that men can become women, adding that &#8220;intentional misgendering&#8221; may constitute discrimination.
&#8220;Consistent with DoD and DAF policy, yes, the U.S. Air Force Academy recognizes that an individual’s internal or personal sense of gender may not match the individual’s sex assigned at birth,&#8221; the spokesman told The Daily Wire upon being asked whether or not the academy believed that people can legitimately change their sex. The spokesman went on to say that &#8220;intentional misgendering of an individual may be considered harassment or discrimination under our Equal Opportunity policies.&#8221;
Fram has a history of pushing the transgender agenda in the military, arguing that inclusion is a matter of national security at a recent women’s empowerment conference.
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Trans Lt. Colonel suggests inclusion is a matter of national security. 
The world is laughing at us. <a href="https://t.co/rmjtLoSU89">pic.twitter.com/rmjtLoSU89</a>
&mdash; Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) <a href="https://twitter.com/libsoftiktok/status/1741490835051720813?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 31, 2023</a></blockquote>
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&nbsp;
He also spoke at a Department of Defense <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oRez_lHF_f0&amp;t=1s">Pride event</a> in 2022, where he was introduced as an “unwavering advocate for transgender service members” who “transitioned while in command position.”
He explained that he taught a lesson on leadership to military officers, where he shared with them that he “was two days away from a 10-hour surgery to give me a new lease on life.” He also celebrated that a colleague of his changed official Air Force policy to allow service members to include their pronouns in their bio “including they/them for our non-binary service members.”
“We must focus on … intentional inclusivity,” Fram said before adding, “For all of you out there, I ask you to set out your symbols of pride, share your pronouns in your email, particularly if you’re a person who doesn’t think they need to, initiate difficult conversations about racial and gender barriers, and share a bit of your vulnerability in a way that draws others in.”
“Remember that we mark Pride not beginning with a celebration, but with a riot,” he said in the speech. “I’m not asking you to pick up your bricks, but I am asking you to pick up your ideas about how we can be a more inclusive service.”
Lieutenant Colonel Bree Fram did not respond to a request for comment. 
This piece was updated on March 1 to include comment from the U.S. Air Force Academy.

Screenshot from U.S. Air Force Academy Video

Air Force Academy Highlights Transgender Officer At Leadership Summit

Transgender

The Pentagon said on Saturday that a high altitude balloon being monitored by the military as it floats across the United States is a hobby balloon and not another Chinese spy balloon. 
The Department of Defense <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/military-tracking-balloon-western-us-military/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">told</a> CBS News that a balloon flying across the Western United States at altitudes of between 43,000 to 45,000 feet was just a “hobbyist” balloon. Previously the Department said that the balloon was not believed to be a threat but that it would continue tracking the craft after the balloon&#8217;s presence was reported on Friday. 
North American Aerospace Command (NORAD) fighter jets <a href="https://www.newsnationnow.com/us-news/military/balloon-intercepted-norad-jets-utah/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">flew out</a> to the craft and found it “not maneuverable,” saying that it was not a “threat to national security.” The balloon was reportedly made of Mylar and is carrying a small box. 
&#8220;NORAD will continue to track and monitor the balloon,&#8221; a defense official said on Friday, &#8220;The FAA also determined the balloon posed no hazard to flight safety. NORAD remains in close coordination with the FAA to ensure flight safety.&#8221;
The emergence of this balloon comes just over a year after the Air Force shot down a Chinese spy balloon off the coast of South Carolina after it crossed the continental United States. The spy balloon was shot down at an altitude of approximately 58,000 feet after it was allowed to float over the United States for days.
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The Biden administration <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/biden-planned-on-hiding-from-congress-the-news-that-a-chinese-spy-balloon-entered-u-s-airspace-report" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reportedly</a> planned on not telling the public or Congress that the balloon had crossed into U.S. airspace. Days before the presence of the spy balloon had been reported, Gen. Glen VanHerck, the head of NORAD, alerted Gen. Mark Milley, then chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, about the existence of the balloon and the U.S.’ efforts to track it.
The news set off panic in the Biden administration, which scrambled for more than a week to figure out what they were going to do in response.
A report from NBC News that Biden officials were privately “complain[ing]” about “the political outcry over the balloon” because they did not view a balloon that was designed to collect intelligence on sensitive U.S. military sites as being a serious “threat” to U.S. national security.

Advanced Fighter Jets Flying Together Above The Clouds. Accelerates And Disappears.

Pentagon Says High-Altitude Balloon Spotted Over Western U.S. Is ‘Hobbyist’ Balloon

Balloon

China

Defense Secretary <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/lloyd-austin" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Lloyd Austin</a> appears to be doing well after receiving treatment for a bladder issue that led to him being <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/defense-secretary-austin-transferred-into-critical-care-transfers-duties-to-deputy" target="_blank" rel="noopener">transferred into critical care</a> at a hospital in Maryland on Sunday, the Biden administration official&#8217;s doctors said on Monday.
Walter Reed National Military Medical Center officials provided a status update for Austin, who the Pentagon said has temporarily transferred his functions and duties to Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks as Austin recovers from yet another health complication after being treated for prostate cancer.
Austin &#8220;underwent non-surgical procedures under general anesthesia to address his bladder issue. We anticipate a successful recovery and will closely monitor him overnight,&#8221; the doctors said in a <a href="https://www.defense.gov/News/Releases/Release/Article/3674000/statement-from-walter-reed-military-medical-center-officials-on-secretary-of-de/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">statement</a>. &#8220;A prolonged hospital stay is not anticipated. We anticipate the Secretary will be able to resume his normal duties tomorrow. The current bladder issue is not expected to change his anticipated full recovery. His cancer prognosis remains excellent.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
.<a href="https://twitter.com/PentagonPresSec?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PentagonPresSec</a> delivers a statement on <a href="https://twitter.com/SecDef?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SecDef</a> Austin&#39;s hospitalization, transfer of functions and duties to <a href="https://twitter.com/DepSecDef?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DepSecDef</a> Kathleen Hicks and that Secretary Austin will no longer travel to Brussels this week as originally scheduled. <a href="https://t.co/BiZsh5RTMO">pic.twitter.com/BiZsh5RTMO</a>
&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1757130467122217366?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 12, 2024</a></blockquote>
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Pentagon press secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1757130467122217366" target="_blank" rel="noopener">told reporters</a> Austin no longer plans to travel to Brussels this week for meetings related to Ukraine and NATO, but other military officials will participate in the talks. Austin intends to appear virtually for a <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/sec-def-makes-first-public-appearance-since-covert-hospitalization-omits-mention-of-his-health-situation" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ukraine Defense Contact Group discussion</a> on Wednesday, Ryder added.
Austin, 70, faced blowback after the revelation that the secretary had been hospitalized on January 1 for complications <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/walter-reed-medical-center-reveals-why-lloyd-austin-was-hospitalized" target="_blank" rel="noopener">stemming from a prostate cancer</a> procedure and delegated some of his duties to a deputy without informing top brass in the Biden administration and Congress.
Some critics, including GOP lawmakers and <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-calls-on-biden-to-fire-defense-chief-for-dereliction-of-duty" target="_blank" rel="noopener">former President Donald Trump</a>, called for Austin&#8217;s ouster as more details emerged, including that Austin kept his cancer diagnosis under wraps until the story broke. Multiple <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/pentagon-inspector-general-announces-review-of-austin-going-mia" target="_blank" rel="noopener">inquiries</a> ensued, and the White House <a href="https://www.politico.com/news/2024/01/26/white-house-cabinet-austin-00138188" target="_blank" rel="noopener">released</a> <a href="https://apnews.com/article/president-joe-biden-white-house-lloyd-austin-cabinet-f3e03c04ff7d9a0ab062a57ac181bb8f#:~:text=From%20now%20on%2C%20Cabinet%20agencies,once%20that%20delegation%20has%20ended." target="_blank" rel="noopener">new guidelines</a> for Cabinet secretaries to enhance transparency rules when authority is delegated to a subordinate. Testimony before a House panel has been <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/def-sec-austin-agrees-to-testify-before-congress-about-secretive-hospitalization" target="_blank" rel="noopener">scheduled</a> for February 29.
The Department of Defense <a href="https://www.defense.gov/News/Releases/Release/Article/3658716/secretary-of-defense-lloyd-j-austin-iii-returns-to-work-at-the-pentagon/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> Austin resumed his duties from home after being released from the hospital on January 15, and the secretary <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/def-sec-austin-returns-to-pentagon-addresses-health-situation" target="_blank" rel="noopener">returned</a> to work at the Pentagon on January 29. Austin has <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/austin-denies-requesting-subtle-ride-to-hospital-blames-aide-should-come-out-in-the-review" target="_blank" rel="noopener">expressed remorse</a> for how his cancer diagnosis and hospitalization were handled. When Austin returned to the hospital over the weekend, the Pentagon announced his transport within hours of it happening and has provided multiple updates since that time.
John Kirby, a spokesman for the National Security Council, <a href="https://twitter.com/RNCResearch/status/1757107099195064354" target="_blank" rel="noopener">told reporters</a> on Monday that he was &#8220;not aware&#8221; of whether President Joe Biden had spoken to Austin following his hospitalization over the weekend but insisted the commander in chief did not have concerns about the secretary&#8217;s ability to serve.

Def Sec Lloyd Austin

Doctors Say Def Sec Austin Underwent Non-Surgical Procedures For Bladder Issue

Biden Administration

Cabinet

Executive

U.S.

On Monday, Defense Secretary <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/lloyd-austin" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Lloyd Austin</a> returned to work at the Pentagon for the first time since his secretive hospitalization for complications <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/walter-reed-medical-center-reveals-why-lloyd-austin-was-hospitalized" target="_blank" rel="noopener">following a procedure to treat prostate cancer</a>.
Austin, 70, briefly <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1752008764742353034" target="_blank" rel="noopener">addressed</a> his health situation during a meeting with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg with cameras in the room to capture the remarks.
&#8220;At this important time, I’m glad to be back at the Pentagon. I feel good and am recovering well — but still recovering — and I appreciate all the good wishes that I&#8217;ve received thus far,&#8221; Austin said.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
.<a href="https://twitter.com/SecDef?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SecDef</a> Austin: &quot;Let me start with my outrage and sorrow for the death of three brave U.S. troops in Jordan&#8230;The president and I will not tolerate attack on U.S. forces and we will take all necessary actions to defend the U.S. and our troops.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/G6bzDZrNsf">pic.twitter.com/G6bzDZrNsf</a>
&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1752008764742353034?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 29, 2024</a></blockquote>
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Austin also commented on the weekend drone attack on a base in Jordan, which the Biden administration has <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2024/01/29/us/politics/us-troops-drone-attack-jordan-iran.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">pinned</a> on an Iran-backed militia.
&#8220;Let me start with my outrage and sorrow for the death of three brave U.S. troops in Jordan and for the other troops who were wounded,&#8221; Austin said.
&#8220;The president and I will not tolerate attack on U.S. forces and we will take all necessary actions to defend the U.S. and our troops,&#8221; he added.
The Department of Defense <a href="https://www.defense.gov/News/Releases/Release/Article/3658716/secretary-of-defense-lloyd-j-austin-iii-returns-to-work-at-the-pentagon/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> Austin has been conducting his duties from home since his release from Walter Reed National Military Medical Center on January 15, roughly two weeks after he was admitted.
Austin made his <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/sec-def-makes-first-public-appearance-since-covert-hospitalization-omits-mention-of-his-health-situation" target="_blank" rel="noopener">first public appearance</a> last week on a video call when he deviated from <a href="https://www.defense.gov/News/Speeches/Speech/Article/3652662/opening-remarks-by-secretary-of-defense-lloyd-j-austin-iii-at-the-18th-ukraine/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">prepared remarks</a> and opted not to mention his condition.
Multiple inquiries began after it emerged that top Biden administration officials and Congress were kept in the dark about Austin&#8217;s <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/biden-admin-shocker-defense-secretary-hospitalized-days-ago-press-alarmed-by-late-notice" target="_blank" rel="noopener">health situation</a> for days.
Some critics, including GOP lawmakers and <a href="https://www.google.com/search?q=trump+austin+daily+wire&amp;sca_esv=248f942d9b8c3839&amp;ei=rd23ZaniIeWxqtsP1MqKmAk&amp;ved=0ahUKEwjp7KWSjYOEAxXlmGoFHVSlApMQ4dUDCBA&amp;uact=5&amp;oq=trump+austin+daily+wire&amp;gs_lp=Egxnd3Mtd2l6LXNlcnAiF3RydW1wIGF1c3RpbiBkYWlseSB3aXJlSPYQUI4BWPEPcAN4AJABAJgBfqABsgmqAQQwLjExuAEDyAEA-AEB4gMEGAEgQYgGAQ&amp;sclient=gws-wiz-serp" target="_blank" rel="noopener">former President Donald Trump</a>, called for Austin&#8217;s ouster. The defense secretary said he took <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/deputy-who-assumed-defense-secretarys-duties-was-not-told-about-his-hospitalization-for-days-report" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&#8220;full responsibility&#8221;</a> for how disclosure was handled.
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The White House released new guidelines for Cabinet secretaries, according to a memo <a href="https://www.politico.com/news/2024/01/26/white-house-cabinet-austin-00138188" target="_blank" rel="noopener">obtained by POLITICO</a>, to enhance transparency rules when authority is delegated to a subordinate.
Austin&#8217;s return to the Pentagon on Monday followed <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2024/01/28/lloyd-austin-prostate-cancer/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">a Washington Post report</a> on cancer survivors who served in the military expressing disappointment that the defense secretary did not take the opportunity to spread awareness.
White House officials have insisted that President Joe Biden has <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CXv5EwRAKRs" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&#8220;complete confidence&#8221;</a> in Austin, and they emphasized that the president plans to keep the secretary in place through the remainder of his term despite it being &#8220;not optimal&#8221; that the commander-in-chief and other leaders did not know what happened for so long.

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin

Def Sec Austin Returns To Pentagon, Addresses Health Situation

National Security

Defense Secretary <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/lloyd-austin" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Lloyd Austin</a> made a public appearance on Tuesday, his first since the controversy over his secretive hospitalization, and opted not to mention his health situation in a break with his script.
The Cabinet official beamed into a virtual meeting of a <a href="https://www.dvidshub.net/feature/UDCG" target="_blank" rel="noopener">group focused on discussing support for Ukraine</a> to deliver an opening statement in which Austin deviated from <a href="https://www.defense.gov/News/Speeches/Speech/Article/3652662/opening-remarks-by-secretary-of-defense-lloyd-j-austin-iii-at-the-18th-ukraine/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">prepared remarks</a> that were published by the Department of Defense (DoD).
Austin was expected to say, &#8220;As you can tell, I&#8217;m joining from home today. I&#8217;m feeling good and looking forward to being back at the Pentagon very soon. And I&#8217;m grateful for all of your warm wishes,&#8221; but he skipped that part to get right into talking about Ukraine.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
LIVE: <a href="https://twitter.com/SecDef?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SecDef</a> Lloyd J. Austin III speaks from the Pentagon at a virtual meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group. <a href="https://t.co/SBTX6R8Fs5">https://t.co/SBTX6R8Fs5</a>
&mdash; Department of Defense 🇺🇸 (@DeptofDefense) <a href="https://twitter.com/DeptofDefense/status/1749779453608087830?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 23, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
During a press briefing, a reporter asked Pentagon Press Secretary Air Force Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder why Austin did not mention being at home or address his health in his first public appearance since being released from the hospital.
&#8220;It&#8217;s his prerogative on any remarks that he gives to amend those in delivery,&#8221; <a href="https://twitter.com/RNCResearch/status/1749892385595597309" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ryder said</a>. &#8220;I will say I am glad that everyone was able to watch his remarks about the impact of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group and the important work that it&#8217;s doing to save lives from Russia&#8217;s illegal and unprovoked aggression.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Q: Why didn&#39;t Defense Sec. Lloyd Austin address his health in his first public remarks since his incapacitation scandal?
Pentagon spokesman Maj. Gen. Patrick Ryder: &quot;It&#39;s his prerogative&quot; <a href="https://t.co/PBYYBarqCn">pic.twitter.com/PBYYBarqCn</a>
&mdash; RNC Research (@RNCResearch) <a href="https://twitter.com/RNCResearch/status/1749892385595597309?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 23, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Austin, 70, was hospitalized on January 1 for complications <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/walter-reed-medical-center-reveals-why-lloyd-austin-was-hospitalized" target="_blank" rel="noopener">following a December procedure to treat prostate cancer</a>. He faced blowback when it emerged that many top officials, including President Joe Biden and the deputy who took on some of his duties, were <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/biden-admin-shocker-defense-secretary-hospitalized-days-ago-press-alarmed-by-late-notice" target="_blank" rel="noopener">not privy to his health situation</a> for days.
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Several investigations, including a <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/pentagon-inspector-general-announces-review-of-austin-going-mia" target="_blank" rel="noopener">probe by the Department of Defense&#8217;s inspector general</a>, a White House <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/white-house-launches-cabinet-protocol-review-after-defense-sec-goes-awol" target="_blank" rel="noopener">review</a> of Cabinet protocols, and an <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/house-panel-launches-probe-into-defense-secretary-going-awol" target="_blank" rel="noopener">inquiry in the GOP-led House,</a> have been announced. Lawmakers on <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/house-democrat-joins-calls-for-austin-to-resign" target="_blank" rel="noopener">both sides of the aisle</a> and former President Donald Trump have called for Austin <a href="https://twitter.com/RepStefanik/status/1744376476718215542" target="_blank" rel="noopener">to resign</a> or <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-calls-on-biden-to-fire-defense-chief-for-dereliction-of-duty" target="_blank" rel="noopener">be fired</a> over the controversy. Austin is also being <a href="https://www.axios.com/2024/01/19/lloyd-austin-testify-congress-hospitalization" target="_blank" rel="noopener">called to testify before Congress</a>.
The DoD announced last week that Austin <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/defense-secretary-lloyd-austin-released-from-hospital" target="_blank" rel="noopener">was being released</a> from the hospital, ending a roughly two-week stay at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. Austin said he would continue to perform his duties from home as he recuperates.
White House officials have insisted that Biden has <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CXv5EwRAKRs" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&#8220;complete confidence&#8221;</a> in Austin, who has said he takes responsibility for the lack of disclosure, and they emphasized that the president plans to keep the secretary in place through the remainder of his term despite it being &#8220;not optimal&#8221; that the commander-in-chief and other leaders did not know what happened for so long.

Sec Def Makes First Public Appearance Since Covert Hospitalization, Omits Mention Of His Health Situation

Ukraine-Russia War

Defense Secretary <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/lloyd-austin" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Lloyd Austin</a> was released from the hospital on Monday, according to the Pentagon, ending a roughly two-week stay mired in controversy over a lack of transparency.
The secretary &#8220;continues to recover well and, on the advice of doctors, will recuperate and perform his duties remotely for a period of time before returning full-time to the Pentagon,&#8221; the Department of Defense (DoD) said in a <a href="https://www.defense.gov/News/Releases/Release/Article/3645144/secretary-of-defense-lloyd-j-austin-iii-released-from-hospital/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">statement</a>. &#8220;He has full access to required secure communications capabilities.&#8221;
Austin, 70, was admitted to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center on January 1 for complications <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/walter-reed-medical-center-reveals-why-lloyd-austin-was-hospitalized" target="_blank" rel="noopener">following a December procedure to treat prostate cancer</a>. He faced blowback when it emerged that many top officials, including President Joe Biden and the deputy who took on some of his duties, were <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/biden-admin-shocker-defense-secretary-hospitalized-days-ago-press-alarmed-by-late-notice" target="_blank" rel="noopener">not privy to his health situation</a> for days, if not weeks.
Lawmakers on <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/house-democrat-joins-calls-for-austin-to-resign" target="_blank" rel="noopener">both sides of the aisle</a> and former President Donald Trump have called for Austin <a href="https://twitter.com/RepStefanik/status/1744376476718215542" target="_blank" rel="noopener">to resign</a> or <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-calls-on-biden-to-fire-defense-chief-for-dereliction-of-duty" target="_blank" rel="noopener">be fired</a> over the defense secretary&#8217;s secretive hospital stay. A number of investigations, including a <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/pentagon-inspector-general-announces-review-of-austin-going-mia" target="_blank" rel="noopener">probe by the DoD&#8217;s inspector general</a>, a White House <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/white-house-launches-cabinet-protocol-review-after-defense-sec-goes-awol" target="_blank" rel="noopener">review</a> of Cabinet protocols, and an <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/house-panel-launches-probe-into-defense-secretary-going-awol" target="_blank" rel="noopener">inquiry in the GOP-led House,</a> have been announced over the past week.
While Austin has said he takes responsibility for the lack of disclosure, White House officials insisted last week that Biden has <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CXv5EwRAKRs" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&#8220;complete confidence&#8221;</a> in Austin and plans to keep the secretary in place through the remainder of his term despite it being &#8220;not optimal&#8221; that the commander-in-chief and other leaders did not know what happened for so long.
Austin&#8217;s doctors <a href="https://www.defense.gov/News/Releases/Release/Article/3645144/secretary-of-defense-lloyd-j-austin-iii-released-from-hospital/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> on Monday that the secretary &#8220;progressed well throughout his stay and his strength is rebounding. He underwent a series of medical tests and evaluations and received non-surgical care during his stay to address his medical needs, to include resolving some lingering leg pains. He was discharged home with planned physical therapy and regular follow up. The Secretary is expected to make a full recovery.&#8221;
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They also noted, &#8220;Secretary Austin&#8217;s prostate cancer was treated early and effectively, and his prognosis is excellent. He has no planned further treatment for his cancer other than regular post-prostatectomy surveillance.&#8221;
Austin also released a <a href="https://www.defense.gov/News/Releases/Release/Article/3645146/statement-from-secretary-of-defense-lloyd-j-austin-iii-on-hospital-release/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">statement</a>, saying, &#8220;I&#8217;m grateful for the excellent care I received at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center and want to thank the outstanding doctors and nursing staff for their professionalism and superb support. I also am thankful and appreciative for all the well wishes I received for a speedy recovery.&#8221;
He added, &#8220;Now, as I continue to recuperate and perform my duties from home, I&#8217;m eager to fully recover and return as quickly as possible to the Pentagon.&#8221;

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin Released From Hospital

A <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/u-s-house-of-representatives" target="_blank" rel="noopener">House</a> panel announced on Tuesday a &#8220;formal inquiry&#8221; into the secretive hospitalization of Defense Secretary <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/lloyd-austin" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Lloyd Austin</a> that has alarmed much of Washington.
The Armed Services Committee said <a href="https://armedservices.house.gov/news/press-releases/rogers-launches-formal-inquiry-secretary-austin-s-failure-disclose" target="_blank" rel="noopener">letters</a> were sent to Austin, his deputy Kathleen Hicks, and Austin&#8217;s chief of staff Kelly Magsamen, requesting information on what transpired over the past few weeks. Word of the inquiry got out in the hours after <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/walter-reed-medical-center-reveals-why-lloyd-austin-was-hospitalized" target="_blank" rel="noopener">doctors revealed</a> the reason Austin had been hospitalized — for complications following a procedure to treat prostate cancer — and officials conceded the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/john-kirby-confirms-white-house-was-not-informed-of-austins-first-hospital-stay-either" target="_blank" rel="noopener">White House did not even know</a> the &#8220;root cause&#8221; of the hospitalization until earlier on Tuesday.
&#8220;My colleagues and I have grave concerns about the handling of your absence and hospitalization. It is unacceptable that neither the Department of Defense (“Department”), the White House, nor the Congress were accurately informed of your position or capacity. With wars in Ukraine and Israel, the idea that the White House and even your own Deputy did not understand the nature of your condition is patently unacceptable,&#8221; Chairman Rep. Mike Rogers (R-AL) wrote in the letter to Austin.
“Everything from on-going counterterrorism operations to nuclear command and control relies on a clear understanding of the Secretary’s decision-making capacity,&#8221; Rogers added. &#8220;The Department is a robust institution, and it is designed to function under attack by our enemies, but it is not designed for a Secretary who conceals being incapacitated.&#8221;
The Department of Defense (D0D) first conceded publicly on Friday that Austin had been <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/biden-has-full-confidence-in-austin-wont-accept-resignation-if-offered-reports" target="_blank" rel="noopener">admitted</a> to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center on January 1, and it soon emerged that the Pentagon press corps, Congress, White House officials, and even some top DoD officials were kept in the dark. Reports that followed disclosed how Hicks <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/deputy-who-assumed-defense-secretarys-duties-was-not-told-about-his-hospitalization-for-days-report" target="_blank" rel="noopener">temporarily assumed</a> some of Austin&#8217;s duties without being informed of Austin&#8217;s hospitalization and a Pentagon spokesman pinned the late notification to the White House on Magsamen <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/biden-has-full-confidence-in-austin-wont-accept-resignation-if-offered-reports" target="_blank" rel="noopener">also being ill</a>.
Austin said in a statement over the weekend that he was on the mend and conceded that he could have “done a better job ensuring the public was appropriately informed.” He added, “I commit to doing better. But this is important to say: this was my medical procedure, and I take full responsibility for my decisions about disclosure.”
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The White House has <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/white-house-launches-cabinet-protocol-review-after-defense-sec-goes-awol" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ordered a review</a> of Cabinet protocols while the DoD <a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/24355754-notification-process-for-assumption-of-functions-and-duties-of-the-secretary-of-defense__8-jan-24" target="_blank" rel="noopener">announced its own review</a> of records and communications to examine what happened internally when Austin got hospitalized and to come up with recommendations on how to improve &#8220;timely notification&#8221; to the White House, Congress, and the public when &#8220;certain authorities&#8221; are transferred.
Some GOP lawmakers and former President Donald Trump have called for Austin <a href="https://twitter.com/RepStefanik/status/1744376476718215542" target="_blank" rel="noopener">to resign</a> or <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-calls-on-biden-to-fire-defense-chief-for-dereliction-of-duty" target="_blank" rel="noopener">be fired</a> over the defense secretary going AWOL. One House Republican <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/house-republican-announces-bid-to-impeach-defense-secretary-austin" target="_blank" rel="noopener">announced a bid</a> to impeach Austin. Others — including Democrats — have simply cited concerns and <a href="https://www.politico.com/news/2024/01/08/congress-austin-pentagon-hospital-defense-00134286" target="_blank" rel="noopener">demanded</a> more transparency.
White House officials said on Tuesday that President Joe Biden has <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CXv5EwRAKRs" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&#8220;complete confidence&#8221;</a> in Austin and plans to keep the secretary in place through the remainder of his term despite it being &#8220;not optimal&#8221; that the commander in chief and other leaders did not know what happened for so long.

House Panel Launches Probe Into Defense Secretary Going AWOL

Congress

House Republicans

U.S. House of Representatives

The deputy who took over some of Defense Secretary <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/lloyd-austin" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Lloyd Austin</a>&#8216;s duties last week was kept in the dark about <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/biden-admin-shocker-defense-secretary-hospitalized-days-ago-press-alarmed-by-late-notice" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the Cabinet official&#8217;s hospitalization</a> for days, according to a new report.
Defense officials <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2024/01/07/politics/austin-hospitalization-leaders-not-informed?cid=ios_app" target="_blank" rel="noopener">told CNN</a> that Deputy Secretary Kathleen Hicks and other top brass did not learn about what happened to Austin until Thursday, three days after the defense secretary was admitted to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center.
As noted by CNN, the Department of Defense (DoD) said Hicks assumed &#8220;certain operational responsibilities that require constant secure communications capabilities&#8221; on Tuesday. At the time, Hicks had already begun a vacation in Puerto Rico, and though the report said the deputy planned to return to Washington, D.C., on Friday, she opted to stay put because Austin was expected to resume his duties from the hospital.
Pentagon Press Secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder told the news outlet that it is &#8220;not uncommon&#8221; for the defense secretary to delegate certain responsibilities without explanation, and Hicks made &#8220;some routine operational and management decisions&#8221; over the past week. Ryder also emphasized that Austin &#8220;has no plans to resign.&#8221;
The DoD shocked the Pentagon press corps, lawmakers, and <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/biden-kept-in-dark-about-defense-secretarys-hospitalization-deputy-took-charge-while-on-vacation-reports" target="_blank" rel="noopener">even reportedly White House</a> officials on Thursday when it spread the word that Austin had been hospitalized on Monday evening for what the agency has described as &#8220;complications following a recent elective medical procedure.&#8221; By then, according to the statement, Austin was &#8220;recovering well&#8221; and expected to resume his full duties.
<a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/secretary-defense-lloyd-austin-hospitalized-middle-east-missions-rcna132612" target="_blank" rel="noopener">NBC News revealed</a> that Austin spent four days in the intensive care unit while <a href="https://www.politico.com/news/2024/01/07/austin-has-long-been-a-quiet-operator-that-just-backfired-on-him-00134199" target="_blank" rel="noopener">POLITICO reported</a> Gen. C.Q. Brown, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, was informed about the defense secretary&#8217;s situation on Tuesday, and acting Defense Undersecretary for Policy Sasha Baker attended a White House meeting in Austin&#8217;s place without knowing about his hospitalization.
A White House official <a href="https://twitter.com/jeffmason1/status/1743807654177165741" target="_blank" rel="noopener">told Reuters</a> that President Joe Biden has &#8220;full confidence&#8221; in Austin and is &#8220;looking forward to him being back at the Pentagon. But a U.S. official <a href="https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/biden-exasperated-informed-lloyd-austins-hospitalization-source/story?id=106168484" target="_blank" rel="noopener">told ABC News</a> that Biden was exasperated by the lack of transparency and that there would be a review of the episode.
While Ryder has said there was an &#8220;evolving situation&#8221; in which &#8220;multiple factors&#8221; such as medical and privacy issues were considered, members of the media and Congress expressed outrage and demanded more information.
The board of directors of the Pentagon Press Association, a group for reporters covering the national security beat, sent a <a href="https://twitter.com/TaskandPurpose/status/1743450095641674051">letter</a> to DoD public affairs officials calling the late notice an &#8220;outrage&#8221; and requesting a meeting on the &#8220;troubling situation as soon as possible.&#8221; They also said Austin &#8220;has no claim to privacy in this situation.&#8221;
Sen. Roger Wicker (R-MS), ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, released a statement that <a href="https://twitter.com/SASCGOP/status/1743791540915306524" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> &#8220;the Department of Defense deliberately withheld the Secretary of Defense’s medical condition for days. That is unacceptable.&#8221;
The DoD released a <a href="https://www.defense.gov/News/Releases/Release/Article/3633506/statement-by-secretary-of-defense-lloyd-j-austin-iii-on-medical-care/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">statement</a> from the defense secretary on Saturday, sharing that he was recovering and expressing contrition for how the situation had been handled.
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&#8220;I want to thank the amazing doctors and nursing staff at Walter Reed for the exceptional care they have delivered to me and for the personal warmth they have shown my family. I also appreciate all the outreach and well wishes from colleagues and friends. Charlene and I are very grateful for your support,&#8221; he said, referring to his wife.
&#8220;I am very glad to be on the mend and look forward to returning to the Pentagon soon,&#8221; Lloyd added. &#8220;I also understand the media concerns about transparency and I recognize I could have done a better job ensuring the public was appropriately informed. I commit to doing better. But this is important to say: this was my medical procedure, and I take full responsibility for my decisions about disclosure.&#8221;

US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin

Deputy Who Assumed Defense Secretary’s Duties Was Not Told About His Hospitalization For Days: Report

Deputy Who Assumed Defense Secretary's Duties Was Not Told About His Hospitalization For Days: Report

New details shed light on how top White House officials, including President Joe Biden himself, were <a href="https://www.politico.com/news/2024/01/06/pentagon-took-3-days-to-inform-white-houses-nsc-of-austins-hospitalization-00134176" target="_blank" rel="noopener">not informed</a> for days that Defense Secretary <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/lloyd-austin" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Lloyd Austin</a> had been hospitalized last week in a shock turn of events.
<a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/secretary-defense-lloyd-austin-hospitalized-middle-east-missions-rcna132612" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Reporting</a> on Saturday also divulged that Deputy Secretary Kathleen Hicks took charge while she was on vacation after Austin <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/biden-admin-shocker-defense-secretary-hospitalized-days-ago-press-alarmed-by-late-notice" target="_blank" rel="noopener">was admitted</a> to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center on Monday for what the Pentagon described as &#8220;complications following a recent elective medical procedure.&#8221;
The Department of Defense (DoD), which did not publicly disclose Austin&#8217;s health matter until close-of-business on Friday, released a <a href="https://www.defense.gov/News/Releases/Release/Article/3633506/statement-by-secretary-of-defense-lloyd-j-austin-iii-on-medical-care/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">statement</a> from the defense secretary sharing that he was recovering and expressing contrition for how the situation had been handled.
&#8220;I want to thank the amazing doctors and nursing staff at Walter Reed for the exceptional care they have delivered to me and for the personal warmth they have shown my family. I also appreciate all the outreach and well wishes from colleagues and friends. Charlene and I are very grateful for your support,&#8221; he said, referring to his wife.
&#8220;I am very glad to be on the mend and look forward to returning to the Pentagon soon,&#8221; Lloyd added. &#8220;I also understand the media concerns about transparency and I recognize I could have done a better job ensuring the public was appropriately informed. I commit to doing better. But this is important to say: this was my medical procedure, and I take full responsibility for my decisions about disclosure.&#8221;
U.S. officials told <a href="https://www.politico.com/news/2024/01/06/pentagon-took-3-days-to-inform-white-houses-nsc-of-austins-hospitalization-00134176" target="_blank" rel="noopener">POLITICO</a> that National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan and other senior White House aides did not learn of Austin&#8217;s health scare until Thursday. &#8220;This should not have happened this way,&#8221; one of the officials told the news outlet. A source also <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2024/01/06/politics/lloyd-austin-hospitalization-officials/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">told CNN</a> that Biden himself did not learn what happened to Austin for days.
Another report, this one <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/secretary-defense-lloyd-austin-hospitalized-middle-east-missions-rcna132612" target="_blank" rel="noopener">from NBC News</a>, featured senior administration officials saying Austin spent four days in the intensive care unit. A senior defense official said Hicks took on the defense secretary&#8217;s duties last week even though she was on vacation in Puerto Rico and Austin did not resume full command until Friday evening.
“At all times, the Deputy Secretary of Defense was prepared to act for and exercise the powers of the Secretary, if required,” Pentagon Press Secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder insisted in a statement. He also said there was an &#8220;evolving situation&#8221; in which &#8220;multiple factors&#8221; such as medical and privacy issues were considered.
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Despite Biden and his National Security Council reportedly being caught off guard, the president has &#8220;full confidence&#8221; in Austin and is &#8220;looking forward to him being back at the Pentagon,&#8221; a White House official <a href="https://twitter.com/jeffmason1/status/1743807654177165741" target="_blank" rel="noopener">told Reuters</a>.
Members of the media, some with decades of experience covering the Pentagon, voiced shock and concern in response to the DoD releasing a public statement on Friday that revealed Austin had been hospitalized on Monday — an announcement that POLITICO noted came 15 minutes after Congress was notified.
The board of directors of the Pentagon Press Association, a group for reporters covering the national security beat, sent a <a href="https://twitter.com/TaskandPurpose/status/1743450095641674051">letter</a> to DoD public affairs officials calling the late notice an &#8220;outrage&#8221; and requesting a meeting on the &#8220;troubling situation as soon as possible.&#8221; They also said Austin &#8220;has no claim to privacy in this situation.&#8221;
Some lawmakers demanded an explanation from the DoD, including Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AR), who <a href="https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cotton-austin-must-address-troubling-hospitalization-report" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> Austin &#8220;must address promptly the troubling report that the Department of Defense didn’t immediately notify President Biden or the National Security Council that he was hospitalized and unable to perform his duties.&#8221;

Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin

Biden Kept In Dark About Defense Secretary’s Hospitalization; Deputy Took Charge While On Vacation: Reports

Biden Kept In Dark About Defense Secretary's Hospitalization; Deputy Took Charge While On Vacation: Reports

Jake Sullivan

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