- Lloyd Austin, 70, was diagnosed with prostate cancer in early December 2023
- The defense minister underwent surgery on December 22 and was discharged the next day
- On January 1, he had “severe abdominal, leg and hip pain” and was admitted to hospital
- Biden was not told until January 4 and Austin will appear before Congress to testify
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has been asked to testify before the House Armed Services Committee about his secret hospitalization.
The 70-year-old was diagnosed with prostate cancer in early December, underwent surgery on December 22 and was diagnosed the next day.
But on January 1, he developed “severe abdominal, leg and hip pain” and was admitted to Walter Reed Hospital. The White House was not informed of his hospitalization until January 4 and did not learn of the cancer diagnosis until January 9 – leading to calls for Austin’s resignation.
On Thursday, Mike Rogers, an Alabama Republican and chairman of the Armed Services Committee, wrote to Austin asking him to appear before the committee on February 14 and provide explanations.
Lloyd Austin is pictured on December 20 – his last public sighting – talking with USS Gerald R. Ford’s commander, Navy Captain Rick Burgess, during an unannounced visit to the ship off the coast of Israel
Austin addresses crew members on the USS Gerald R. Ford on December 20. Two days later he went to hospital for a planned prostate cancer operation, but was discharged and readmitted a week later
Austin, 70, will testify at a budget hearing in March
“Congress must understand what happened and who made decisions to prevent the disclosure of a Cabinet secretary’s whereabouts,” Rogers wrote.
Austin spent the first two weeks of 2024 in the hospital and was released to his on Monday Virginia At home.
President Joe Biden has said Austin has his full support, but Republicans have accused him of going AWOL.
“Maintaining the most ready and lethal force requires that everyone in the national security community can rely on the Secretary of Defense’s availability and transparency,” Rogers said in his four-page letter to Austin.
“Unfortunately, you have not displayed these qualities during the most recent series of events.”
Austin faced calls for his resignation after failing to inform the White House of his cancer diagnosis, surgery and hospital readmission
Rogers, who has opened an investigation into Austin’s conduct, said he wants Austin to provide details about his communications with White House and Defense Department officials; the temporary transfer of power to Assistant Secretary Kathleen Hicks; and Austin’s official actions during his hospitalization.
Hicks took control of some of Austin’s powers on January 2, but the White House was not notified.
On the same day that Hicks took office, the Pentagon press secretary, Austin’s chief of staff, and Austin’s senior military adviser learned that Austin was in the hospital.
“I expect your full honesty and cooperation in this matter,” Rogers said.
“Anything beyond that is completely unacceptable.”
The public was not notified of Austin’s hospitalization until January 5.
Austin and the Pentagon have yet to respond to Rogers’ request.