The Sec of Defense is the person that would execute any order from the President in any critical military situation….
With Sec Lloyd Austin in the hospital….
His Deputy Kathleen Hicks, assumed that function….
It appears very few people in the government was notified of the down status of the Sec….
The Pentagon did not inform senior officials in the White House’s National Security Council of Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin’s hospitalization until Thursday — three full days after he arrived at Walter Reed Medical Center, two U.S. officials said.
The news came as a shock to top staff, including national security adviser Jake Sullivan, as they were unaware the DOD chief was dealing with complications following an elective medical procedure, the officials said. NSC staffers were surprised it took the Pentagon so long to let them know of Austin’s condition. The Pentagon didn’t make the information public until Friday evening, notifying Congress about 15 minutes before releasing a public statement…
…
Chuck Hagel, the former senator who served as defense secretary during the Obama administration, said the Pentagon absolutely had to let the NSC know about Austin’s condition and whereabouts. “The NSC is part of your team, it’s part of the family,” he stated during a brief interview. “The president has to know where his Cabinet members are at all times.”
On Friday evening, as many people were turning toward their weekends, DOD spokesperson Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder announced that Austin had been hospitalized since Jan. 1. His deputy, Kathleen Hicks, partially assumed some of his duties from Jan. 1 until Jan. 5, when he resumed his full duties, according to one senior DOD official.
But Austin’s hospitalization was a closely guarded secret, kept from even senior Pentagon officials and congressional leaders until just before the public statement, according to nine DOD officials and two congressional aides. Some Pentagon officials only learned of Austin’s situation through Ryder’s news release. One of the DOD officials said their office was told by Austin’s aides that the secretary was working from home for the week….
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Update…
“Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin spent time in an intensive care unit after entering a military hospital on New Year’s Day, according to U.S. officials, pointing to a more serious medical condition than what the Pentagon previously disclosed,” the Wall Street Journal reports.
“The Pentagon chief remains at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center but has now resumed his full duties.”
Politico: Pentagon took three days to inform White House of Austin’s hospitalization.
Note…
I could be wrong but I find it hard to believe the President was NOT aware his Sec of Defense was out of service….
Well?
The media reports ARE that someone decided NOT to inform the President that his Defense Sec was in the hospital?
If that Is true?
Someone IS gonna out that person and they willlooking for a new job….
Word is Biden is tight with Austin due their past dealings with Biden’s son Beau, who has pasted away….
More…
Biden DOES have Austin’s back…..
…President Joe Biden is not considering firing Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin after he did not tell the White House about his emergency hospitalization, four senior administration officials told POLITICO.
Beyond that, one official noted, the president would not accept a resignation if Austin were to offer one….
More…
He should be fired .
Well?
So far that’s not gonna happen……
I DO find it incredible of the President was not informed….