For days, neither the White House nor his temporary replacement Kathleen Hicks were aware that Lloyd Austin, the US Secretary of Defense, was in the hospital. The American broadcaster CNN reports Sunday based on two anonymous defense sources that Hicks, who temporarily replaced Austin from January 2, had not been informed of anything. Even President Joe Biden was not notified until three days after Austin ended up in the hospital due to unforeseen complications following a medical procedure.
It is very unusual for an American defense minister to be absent without explanation during several pressing international security dossiers. After Biden, Austin is second in the decision chain of the US armed forces: in principle, he must be available at all times to respond to a national security crisis.
According to CNN, Secretary of State Hicks did not know that the secretary was in the hospital until two days after she took over some of Austin's duties on January 2. Biden was only informed on Thursday, according to the Reuters news agency. Important army commanders were also not informed. It is not clear whether Austin was involved in any major decisions during his hospitalization.
Austin was publicly criticized on Saturday evening for his poor communication. In a statement he wrote that he took “full responsibility” for his mistakes and promised to improve. On Sunday he was still in hospital, but was able to work again, writes CBS News. But questions about why he did not inform Hicks and the White House of his status for days, what exactly he is suffering from and when he expects to be released from the hospital remain unanswered.
#Defense #Secretary #Austin #hospitalized #days #informing #White #House
