Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin risked national security 'unnecessarily,' Inspector General says

WASHINGTON — The Pentagon Inspector General released a scathing report Wednesday about Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin’s failure to alert the White House and his senior staff about his hospitalization in early 2024, noting that his actions risked national security "unnecessarily."

Austin, suffering from complications after surgery for prostate cancer, had sought to keep his condition and the fact that he had been incapacitated while under general anesthesia secret from President Joe Biden and Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen Hicks.

Robert Storch, the Pentagon Inspector General, said in a statement that Austin’s failure to make proper notifications jeopardized national security.

“Although we found no adverse consequences to (Department of Defense) operations arising from how the hospitalizations we reviewed were handled, the risks to our national defense, including the command and control of the DoD’s critical national security operations, were increased unnecessarily.”

A Defense official, briefing reporters Wednesday on condition of anonymity, said there was never a gap in command and control between Austin and his handoff of authority to Hicks while he underwent the treatment. Although there was potential risk at the Pentagon, nothing untoward occurred, according to a second official who also was not authorized to speak publicly.

More: Weeks after controversial hospital stay, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin returns to Walter Reed

The Pentagon has taken steps to address the concerns, Storch wrote, but more needs to be done. Austin agreed with 20 changes recommended by the inspector general, according to the report.

“These are required to ensure the DoD’s readiness, transparency, and the fulfillment of its mission,” Storch said. “These improvements are not just an administrative necessity; they are an operational and national security imperative.”

Austin 'deadly serious' about keeping condition secret

The report made clear that Austin, who is known to value his personal privacy, insisted on keeping his illness a secret.

“Not only did Secretary Austin not tell Deputy Secretary Hicks or his senior staff about his medical condition or appointments, he specifically told one junior staff member ‘if anyone had any questions they’re more than welcome to ask (me) directly,’ an admonition not likely to foster further inquiry,” according to the Inspector General’s report.

Austin has apologized for his failure to make proper notifications about his hospitalization.

The Pentagon watchdog found that "Austin’s strong desire for privacy about his medical conditions is a thread that runs through all the events that we reviewed, including in his public statements about his hospitalization."

Austin kept information about his initial surgery and being under general anesthesia from Hicks, his chief of staff and his senior military assistant and Air Force Gen. CQ Brown, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

"A staff member described Secretary Austin as 'deadly serious' about keeping his medical matters private," according to the report.

Even after his senior staff had been told about the need to transfer his authority to Hicks on Jan. 2, none of them knew the seriousness of his condition because they had no means to contact him directly. When they sought his guidance, Austin indicated he wanted "'zero contact' unless it was the President," the report said.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Defense Secretary Austin risked national security 'unnecessarily': IG