The House’s No. 3 Republican leader, Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.), is demanding that Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin resign after being hospitalized, including a stint in the ICU and not informing the commander-in-chief, President Joe Biden, or anyone else in the chain of command.

Calling the situation “absolutely unacceptable,” Stefanik said that the highest-ranking civilian under Biden within the U.S. military made her remarks after the White House said the president was not considering firing Austin.

Austin “has come under intense scrutiny after it was revealed he withheld that he was hospitalized on New Year’s Day from the president and the public for several days,” Newsmax reported on Monday.

“It is shocking and absolutely unacceptable that the Department of Defense waited multiple days to notify the President, the National Security Council, and the American people that Defense Secretary Austin was hospitalized and unable to perform his duties,” Stefanik said in a statement. “In the chain of command, the Secretary of Defense serves as the connection through which the President commands and controls our armed forces.

“At this dangerous time when American service members are under attack in Iraq and Syria, our closest partner and ally Israel is at war with Hamas terrorists, and the threat from Communist China is on the rise, it is critical that the Secretary of Defense has the full trust of the American people, Congress, and the White House,” she added.

“This concerning lack of transparency exemplifies a shocking lack of judgment and a significant national security threat. There must be full accountability beginning with the immediate resignation of Secretary Austin and those that lied for him and a Congressional investigation into this dangerous dereliction of duty,” she said.

Austin has taken “full responsibility” for what he described as a communications breakdown, but that is not likely to satisfy Republicans who are already frustrated with Biden and his policies.

The Pentagon says he has resumed his duties.

“The secretary was admitted to intensive care at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center on Jan. 1 with severe pain after initially being discharged following a minor elective medical procedure on Dec. 22,” Newsmax reported, adding that the Defense Department has not provided any additional information about Austin’s procedure.