White House assessment after Austin’s secret hospitalization
The White House on Tuesday instructed Cabinet secretaries to keep it informed when they may be unable to fulfill their duties after Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin III was hospitalized for several days last week without President Biden or his staff’s knowledge to set.
In a memo, Jeffrey D. Zients, the White House chief of staff, directed Cabinet officials to review their current policies for delegating authority when a secretary is incapacitated and forward those procedures to the White House for review. In the meantime, Mr. Zients made clear that White House officials expected to be kept informed of developments such as major medical issues.
“Inform the Offices of Cabinet Affairs and the White House Chief of Staff in the event of a delegation of authority or potential delegation,” Mr. Zients wrote in the memo, which was obtained by The New York Times. “This notice must occur when agencies anticipate or prepare for a delegation of authority and again when the delegation occurs.” He added that he wanted such notice “in writing.”
Mr. Zients’ directive reflected the sense of consternation in the West Wing that the nation’s top defense official, who is part of the nuclear command structure, could remain in intensive care for so long without the president or other major national security officials. officials are aware of this. Even Mr. Austin’s deputy secretary, who was supposed to act in his absence in the event of a crisis, was initially told nothing about it.
Mr Biden has indicated he does not intend to fire Mr Austin over the incident, despite calls from some Republicans to do so, but people close to the White House described deep frustration and bewilderment among some in the the president’s team. Mr. Austin, a reserved retired general, does not have a particularly intimate relationship with Mr. Biden or his team, but he is generally well-liked and respected, making the situation all the more troubling for them.
Even now, some in the White House are pushing for Mr. Austin to reveal more about the medical problems that forced him to be taken by ambulance to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland, on Jan. 1. has only said that he was hospitalized on December 22 due to complications from “an elective medical procedure,” but has not revealed what the original procedure was or the nature of the complications.
Mr. Austin resumed his duties from his hospital bed on Friday and “has received operational updates and provided necessary guidance from there,” The Pentagon said this on Monday, but it was not clear when he would be released. The Pentagon said the secretary is “recovering and in good spirits.”
The Pentagon has ordered its own 30-day review of what happened and how to change procedures if necessary. In another memo obtained by The Times, Kelly E. Magsamen, Mr. Austin’s chief of staff, on Monday directed Jennifer Walsh, the department’s director of administration and management, to “identify and evaluate the processes and procedures.” which put the Deputy Secretary of Defense on notice to perform the functions and duties of the Secretary of Defense.
While the review is underway, Ms. Magsamen directed that if the Secretary’s power is redelegated, his office would appoint the chairman and vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the combatant commanders, service secretaries and chiefs of staff, the general Pentagon advisor. , senior assistants to the Secretary and his deputy, and the White House Situation Room.
In his Tuesday memo, Mr. Zients instructed all Cabinet departments to send him their current procedures by Friday so he can evaluate them to determine whether they need to be adjusted. He made it clear that power must be transferred “when a cabinet member travels to areas with limited or no access to communications, undergoes hospitalization or a medical procedure requiring general anesthesia, or otherwise in a circumstance where he or she may be unreachable .’
It was not clear whether Mr. Biden himself knows the details of Mr. Austin’s medical problems. The two men spoke on Saturday, but the White House did not provide many details about their conversation other than to say that Mr. Biden wished the secretary a speedy recovery. Several White House officials said they themselves did not know the details of Mr. Austin’s condition.
John F. Kirby, a spokesman for the National Security Council, said Monday that “the president’s primary focus is on his health and recovery” and added that there are “no plans or anything other than Secretary Austin remaining in jail ”. function.”
Mr. Austin participated in a secure conference call on the morning of New Year’s Day with Mr. Biden, Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken, National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan and other officials about operations in the Middle East, the White House said. At some point that day, Mr. Austin experienced what a spokesman said was “severe pain” and was taken to Walter Reed.
Four of the secretary’s aides were notified the next day, according to the Pentagon, but did not immediately relay a message to the White House or key colleagues at the Defense Department. Mr. Sullivan was not notified until Thursday, and the Pentagon disclosed the secretary’s hospitalization in a bald statement Friday evening.
A key question will be how the delegation of authority to Kathleen Hicks, the deputy secretary of defense, was handled. Ms. Hicks was on vacation in Puerto Rico at the time, and the Pentagon said the secretary’s power was transferred to her last Tuesday through Friday. But officials say Ms. Hicks was not informed of Mr. Austin’s hospitalization until Thursday.
Mr Austin has acknowledged the lack of transparency. “I recognize that I could have done a better job in ensuring the public was properly informed,” he said in a statement on Saturday. “I am committed to doing better.”
Republicans are still dissatisfied. “I am quickly losing confidence in Sec Austin’s ability to lead DoD during this turbulent time,” said Rep. Mike Rogers, Republican of Alabama and chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, wrote on social media Monday evening, referring to the Ministry of Defense. “Sec Austin and his team’s decision to withhold vital information from the President and Congress must be addressed. We need to hear from Sec Austin & DoD about this lack of transparency.”