On Monday, U.S. Congressman Matt Gaetz (FL-01) issued a statement, calling on Chairman Mike Rodgers and the House Armed Services Committee to immediately hold a hearing regarding Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin’s failure to communicate his hospitalization:
“Over the weekend, a breaking news report found that Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin had been quietly admitted to an intensive care unit for four days on New Year’s Day.
His backup, Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen Hicks, supposedly took over his duties while vacationing in Puerto Rico.
The Secretary of Defense serves as the linchpin through which the President commands and controls our armed forces. The DoD’s failure to inform the White House, Congress, and the American People of Secretary Austin’s incapacitation reflects the lack of leadership, competency, and transparency throughout the entire Biden administration.
The White House has already signaled that Secretary Austin will face no consequences as a result of this scandal. Therefore, Chairman Mike Rogers and the House Armed Services Committee should immediately hold a hearing and receive testimony from Secretary Lloyd Austin and Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen Hicks regarding Austin’s absence and Hicks’ failure to return from vacation to preform her duties,” said Congressman Gaetz.
