Statement of the US Defense Minister in Congress

U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin was criticized in Congress on Thursday for his decision to keep his surgery and subsequent treatment at the hospital a secret even from the president and his deputies.

According to the Arabic Post report, Austin apologized to Biden himself for the way he handled the matter, but the Republican-dominated House Armed Services Committee summoned him today to ask him questions about it.

According to prepared remarks, Mike Rogers, chairman of the Armed Services Committee, will say at the hearing: “It is completely unacceptable that three days later the president is informed that the defense secretary is in the hospital and is not in control of the Pentagon.” .
He added: “The war was going on in Ukraine and Israel, our ships were under fire in the Red Sea, and our bases in Iraq and Syria were being prepared for attack, but the commander in chief did not know that his defense minister was off duty.”

U.S. Defense Secretary Austin chose not to disclose his health status, choosing not to disclose his initial surgery in December, as well as his subsequent hospitalization in January due to complications that left him in the intensive care unit. put it, keep it secret.

The late announcement of Austin’s hospitalization sparked controversy in the US, with officials confirming that Biden, the White House and members of Congress were informed of the incident days later.

According to Reuters, White House spokesman John Kirby said: “No one at the White House knew that Austin had prostate cancer until Tuesday morning, and the president was informed soon after that.