WASHINGTON, D.C.— A devastating report from the Department of Defense Inspector General stated unequivocally that the tight secrecy that surrounded the medical treatment and allegations of incapacity of Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin in 2023 and 2024 “increased unnecessarily” the risks to National Security. Austin left the Pentagon for the final time on Friday
The review conducted by the Pentagon IG investigated Austin’s secretive hospitalizations included the examination of over 56 million data points according to CNN. The outlet reported that data included text messages, classified emails, and interviews with 44 witnesses.
A senior defense official told CNN, Wednesday countered this saying, “There was no scandal, there was no cover-up and, in fact, the report found that at no time was the secretary incapacitated while carrying out his duties. The report also found that at no time was there a break in command and control, and at no time were there any gaps in authorities or operational impacts.”
However, the report appeared to contradict this noting that during two procedures on January 6 and 8, 2024, Austin was “moderately sedated,” and under medical orders that he might have to go under anesthesia and was to refrain from “any activities requiring unimpaired mental ability for at least 24 hours,” according to the outlet.
The U.S. Naval Institute provided additional background noting that the DOD issued a statement on Jan. 5th saying that Secretary Austin had been admitted to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center (WRNMMC) on January 1, 2024, “for complications following a recent elective medical procedure.”
The press release cited by USNI stated, “At all times, the Deputy Secretary of Defense was prepared to act for and exercise the powers of the Secretary, if required.”
The heavily redacted 83-page report published by USNI found in its conclusions:
Congressman Tommy Tuberville commented on the report Wednesday writing, “I just read an EXTREMELY DISTURBING IG report. Last December, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin was hospitalized and failed to follow the law by notifying the White House or Congress. Turns out, the same thing happened AGAIN in June. The Secretary of Defense went AWOL TWICE last year; and nobody knew about it. Unacceptable. @PeteHegseth and @RealDonaldTrump can’t get here soon enough.”
Tuberville laid out the damning allegations in a video posted to X saying, “Last December, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin was hospitalized and failed to follow the law by notifying the White House or Congress. Similarly, his deputy, Secretary Kathleen Hicks, also refused to follow protocol and report the transfer of authority. Now, the Inspector General's report just released reveals that this doesn't just happen once. Secretary Austin did the same thing again five months later, last June, and he hid it from everyone.”
He continued, “People get sick. It happens to all of us, and I sincerely hope Secretary Austin is healthy. But it is dangerous and deeply concerning that our Secretary of Defense left the United States vulnerable when he was completely out of commission. Not once, but twice, and he didn't feel the need to tell his boss either time. So, thanks to Joe Biden, we have wars all over the world. As a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, I am deeply, deeply disturbed to learn that we have had two significant lapses in the chain of command that have left our country wide open for attack.”
The review conducted by the Pentagon IG investigated Austin’s secretive hospitalizations included the examination of over 56 million data points according to CNN. The outlet reported that data included text messages, classified emails, and interviews with 44 witnesses.
A senior defense official told CNN, Wednesday countered this saying, “There was no scandal, there was no cover-up and, in fact, the report found that at no time was the secretary incapacitated while carrying out his duties. The report also found that at no time was there a break in command and control, and at no time were there any gaps in authorities or operational impacts.”
However, the report appeared to contradict this noting that during two procedures on January 6 and 8, 2024, Austin was “moderately sedated,” and under medical orders that he might have to go under anesthesia and was to refrain from “any activities requiring unimpaired mental ability for at least 24 hours,” according to the outlet.
The U.S. Naval Institute provided additional background noting that the DOD issued a statement on Jan. 5th saying that Secretary Austin had been admitted to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center (WRNMMC) on January 1, 2024, “for complications following a recent elective medical procedure.”
The press release cited by USNI stated, “At all times, the Deputy Secretary of Defense was prepared to act for and exercise the powers of the Secretary, if required.”
The heavily redacted 83-page report published by USNI found in its conclusions:
- “Secretary Austin did not meet the requirement to immediately notify the Comptroller General and Congress about the vacancy in his office resulting from his medical procedure under general anesthesia in December 2023. Similarly, we also determined that Secretary Austin did not meet the separate requirement for the DoD to report his incapacitation to the White House as a result of this medical procedure under general anesthesia.”
- Further On January 1, 2024, “neither Secretary Austin nor Deputy Secretary Hicks met the requirement to immediately notify the Comptroller General and Congress of the vacancy in the Office of the Secretary of Defense from January 2 through 5, resulting from Secretary Austin’s unplanned hospitalization and subsequent
inability to perform the functions and duties of his office.”
I just read an EXTREMELY DISTURBING IG report.
— Coach Tommy Tuberville (@SenTuberville) January 15, 2025
Last December, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin was hospitalized and failed to follow the law by notifying the White House or Congress.
Turns out, the same thing happened AGAIN in June. The Secretary of Defense went AWOL TWICE… pic.twitter.com/wJfXBFniW1
Congressman Tommy Tuberville commented on the report Wednesday writing, “I just read an EXTREMELY DISTURBING IG report. Last December, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin was hospitalized and failed to follow the law by notifying the White House or Congress. Turns out, the same thing happened AGAIN in June. The Secretary of Defense went AWOL TWICE last year; and nobody knew about it. Unacceptable. @PeteHegseth and @RealDonaldTrump can’t get here soon enough.”
Tuberville laid out the damning allegations in a video posted to X saying, “Last December, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin was hospitalized and failed to follow the law by notifying the White House or Congress. Similarly, his deputy, Secretary Kathleen Hicks, also refused to follow protocol and report the transfer of authority. Now, the Inspector General's report just released reveals that this doesn't just happen once. Secretary Austin did the same thing again five months later, last June, and he hid it from everyone.”
He continued, “People get sick. It happens to all of us, and I sincerely hope Secretary Austin is healthy. But it is dangerous and deeply concerning that our Secretary of Defense left the United States vulnerable when he was completely out of commission. Not once, but twice, and he didn't feel the need to tell his boss either time. So, thanks to Joe Biden, we have wars all over the world. As a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, I am deeply, deeply disturbed to learn that we have had two significant lapses in the chain of command that have left our country wide open for attack.”
For corrections or revisions, click here.
The opinions reflected in this article are not necessarily the opinions of LET
Comments