Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, the nation's top defense official, was admitted to a hospital in Washington, D.C., on Monday after complications from elective surgery, something the Defense Department kept secret for four days, the Pentagon revealed Friday.
“On the evening of January 1, Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III was admitted to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center due to complications following a recent elective medical procedure,” said Pentagon Press Secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder.
He added: “He is recovering well and is expected to resume his full duties today.”
The Pentagon Press Association (PPA) sent a letter from its board of directors to Secretary Austin's staff Friday evening expressing “grave concern” about the Department of Defense's news release.
Below is the message from the PPA:
Dear Mr. Major and Major General Ryder,
We are writing to express our grave concerns regarding the Department of Defense's failure to notify the public and media about Secretary Lloyd Austin's current hospitalization.
The fact that he was at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center for four days and that the Pentagon is only now alerting the public late Friday evening is infuriating. It is far lower than the normal disclosure standards other federal departments follow when senior officials undergo medical procedures or become temporarily incapacitated.
The public has a right to know when members of the U.S. Cabinet are hospitalized, under anesthesia, or when duties are delegated as a result of any medical procedure. This was the practice even down to the chief level. As the nation's top defense chief, Secretary Austin has no right to demand privacy in this situation.
At a time when threats to U.S. military service members in the Middle East are increasing and the United States plays key national security roles in the wars in Israel and Ukraine, it is especially important for the American public to be informed about their health and well-being. The decision-making capacity of its senior defense commander.
We request a meeting with you to discuss this troubling situation as soon as possible.
Board of Directors of the Pentagon Press Association
Luis Martinez, ABC News, President
Lolita Baldur, AP, Vice President
Arun Mehta, Defense Minister
Phil Stewart, Reuters, Senior Board Member
