The choice to maintain Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin’s hospitalization a secret even from the commander-in-chief for a number of days raised a problem, the National Security Council’s spokesperson John Kirby mentioned Sunday, as President Joe Biden has mentioned he maintains confidence within the Pentagon chief.
Austin, who has been recognized with prostate most cancers, stays hospitalized at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Washington after he was admitted on Jan. 1 following a complication in his restoration from a prostatectomy process on Dec. 22, 2023.
While Biden, who solely discovered of Austin’s hospitalization on Jan. 4, acknowledged that the way in which the incident was dealt with confirmed a lapse in judgment, he informed reporters on Friday he nonetheless stood by Austin.
Kirby didn’t provide a lot element on Austin’s situation, however mentioned his docs assume “he may need some additional care.”
“I understand that part of that is just physical therapy,” he informed CBS’ “Face the Nation.”
Kirby mentioned Austin is working from his hospital room and has taken half in discussions regarding his division, together with the choice to strike Houthi militia in Yemen in coordination with the British, in one other escalation of ongoing tensions within the Middle East amid Israel’s conflict in Gaza.
“He’s actively involved and engaged,” Kirby mentioned. “And I think it’s important for people to remember that the Cabinet officials don’t have to sit and talk every single day to make every decision. A lot of the work that gets done in national security is done at the staff level.”
But Kirby conceded that the preliminary choice to maintain the White House at the hours of darkness was a problem.
“That’s a problem,” he mentioned. “And the president has spoken to that. That is not the way it’s supposed to be. It’s certainly something we need to get more answers to.”
The Pentagon’s inspector normal, Robert Storch, on Thursday introduced an investigation to evaluation whether or not the division’s “policies and procedures are sufficient to ensure timely and appropriate notifications, and the effective transition of authorities, as may be warranted due to health-based or other unavailability of senior leadership.”
Austin’s workplace and the White House have additionally ordered separate probes.
While the incident raised eyebrows in Washington, Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), who sits on the Armed Services Committee, on Sunday mentioned whereas there was clearly a breakdown within the chain of command, he believes Austin ought to keep in his put up.
“His health and well-being is what I’m most concerned about, and his dedication to our country,” Manchin informed CBS’ Margared Brennan. “I think we owe something to make sure we have the facts before we put politics. Politics is always going to ask, though for someone’s head, always does. And this toxic atmosphere is what people don’t like anymore.”
