Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin expressed his regret and mishandling of the situation surrounding his cancer diagnosis and the lack of notification to President Biden regarding his hospitalization for treatment.
During a Pentagon press briefing, Austin admitted, “I want to be crystal clear. We did not handle this right and I did not handle this right.” He apologized for not disclosing his cancer diagnosis promptly to both the president and the American public, taking full responsibility for the oversight and expressing remorse to his teammates and the public.
Reporter: “Anyone else within the military chain of command would have faced reprimand or even dismissal. Why shouldn't that same standard apply to you?”
Defense Sec. Lloyd Austin says “thanks for the question” and then doesn’t answer. pic.twitter.com/wbF4da1IHD
— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) February 1, 2024
Addressing concerns about the Department of Defense’s command and control during his absence, Austin emphasized, “I want to make it very clear that there were no gaps in authorities and no risk to the department’s command and control.” He reassured that either he or the deputy secretary was in full charge at all times and outlined new procedures to prevent notification lapses in the future.
Austin, who returned to the Pentagon after his hospitalization, revealed that he personally apologized to President Biden. He stated, “As a rule, I don’t talk about conversations with my boss, but I can tell you I have apologized directly to President Biden and I’ve told him that I’m deeply sorry for not letting him know immediately that I received a heavy diagnosis and was getting treatment.”
Defense Sec. Lloyd Austin can’t explain why his staff told the ambulance “no lights, no sirens.”
Repeatedly throughout this press conference, Austin doesn't answer questions about who knew what when. pic.twitter.com/qDrBTU20uv
— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) February 1, 2024
Despite the controversy, Austin rejected the idea of resigning and expressed gratitude for President Biden’s confidence in him. Responding to questions about the drone strike during his hospitalization, Austin clarified that the strike was planned, and he had recommended actions to the president. He emphasized that the decision and authorities were delegated to the Central Command commander, who executed the strike within a few days.
Austin denied creating a “culture of secrecy” at the Department of Defense and explained the circumstances surrounding his hospitalization. He underwent a “minimally invasive procedure” for prostate cancer on Dec. 22, 2023, but experienced severe pain on Jan. 1, leading to hospitalization at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center.
Defense Sec. Lloyd Austin during his first press conference since his incapacitation scandal:
“Frankly, my first instinct was to keep it private. I don’t think it’s news that I’m a pretty private guy.” pic.twitter.com/dbvMSzwnig
— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) February 1, 2024
During his absence, the deputy secretary assumed his duties, and Austin assured that relevant parties were notified through standard procedures. He resumed his responsibilities on Jan. 5, acknowledging that while he was mentally sharp, physical issues required additional treatment and hospitalization until Jan. 15.
Reflecting on the missed opportunity to address a crucial health issue, especially impacting the Black community, Austin urged men to prioritize regular screenings for prostate cancer. He disclosed, “I was diagnosed with a highly treatable form of cancer, a pretty common one,” emphasizing the importance of early detection in treating the disease.
