Congress demands details on situation, timing

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Democrats and Republicans within the House of Representatives are demanding extra data on Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin’s hospitalization and why it was stored underneath wraps for days earlier than it was lastly introduced.

The prime lawmakers on the House Armed Services Committee launched a press release on Sunday night calling for “additional details” on Austin’s situation and why notification was delayed.

“While we wish Sec. Austin a speedy recovery, we are concerned with how the disclosure of the Secretary’s condition was handled,” Committee Chairman Mike Rogers, R-Ala., and rating member Rep. Adam Smith, D-Wash., mentioned.

DOD SECOND IN COMMAND TOLD OF AUSTIN’S HOSPITALIZATION 2 DAYS AFTER TAKING OVER SOME OF HIS DUTIES

Secretary Lloyd Austin

 U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin is underneath scrutiny for the way his hospitalization has been dealt with ((Photo by Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images))

“Several questions remain unanswered including what the medical procedure and resulting complications were, what the Secretary’s current health status is, how and when the delegation of the Secretary’s responsibilities were made, and the reason for the delay in notification to the President and Congress.

“Transparency is vitally vital. Sec. Austin should present these extra details on his well being and the decision-making course of that occurred prior to now week as quickly as potential.”

DEFENSE SECRETARY AUSTIN HOSPITALIZED FOLLOWING SURGERY COMPLICATIONS

Fox News Digital reached out to the Pentagon for a response.

GOP Conference Chair Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., the No. 3 House Republican, on Monday morning called for Austin’s resignation.

House Armed Services Committee Chairman Mike Rogers, R-Ala., said he wants more information on the situation (Ting Shen/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

“It is stunning and completely unacceptable that the Department of Defense waited a number of days to inform the President, the National Security Council, and the American those who Defense Secretary Austin was hospitalized and unable to carry out his duties,” Stefanik said. 

“This regarding lack of transparency exemplifies a stunning lack of judgment and a major nationwide safety risk. There should be full accountability starting with the speedy resignation of Secretary Austin and people who lied for him and a Congressional investigation into this harmful dereliction of responsibility.”

PENTAGON ANNOUNCES NEW RED SEA INTERNATIONAL MISSION TO COUNTER ESCALATING HOUTHI ATTACKS ON SHIPS

The Pentagon publicly revealed on Friday that Austin was in the hospital due to complications from elective surgery. He had been there since the start of the week.

Austin South Korea

Austin was hospitalized last Monday but it was not made public knowledge until Friday (Photo by Kim Hong-Ji – Pool/Getty Images)

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But a Politico report later revealed that not only were media kept in the dark, but that the highest levels of the White House and top officials in the Pentagon itself were not aware until Thursday Austin was in the hospital.

Democrat Rep. Chris Deluzio, D-Pa., wrote on X Sunday evening, “I serve on the House Armed Services Committee and share the issues of Chairman Rogers and Ranking Member Smith.”

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