Biden Uninformed for Days about Defense Secretary Austin's Hospitalization

For days, President Joe Biden was reportedly unaware that Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin had been hospitalized, according to a source familiar with the situation. National security adviser Jake Sullivan informed Biden on Thursday afternoon, shortly after learning of Austin's hospitalization due to complications from a non-emergency surgery on New Year's Day.

The Pentagon announced on Friday that Austin had been hospitalized. His first statement was issued on Saturday, five days after his admission, in which he acknowledged that he could have done a "better job" notifying the public. He did not provide any details about his condition or the reason for his hospitalization on January 1. As of Saturday evening, a defense official confirmed that he was still in the hospital.

The U.S. Secretary of Defense, Lloyd Austin, observed the joint press conference with Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant at Israel's Ministry of Defense in Tel Aviv, Israel on December 18, 2023. The photo was captured by REUTERS/Violeta Santos Moura.

Violeta Santos Moura/Reuters

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin recovering after being admitted to hospital

Austin expressed his gratitude to the "amazing" staff at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center on Saturday evening, stating that he is "on the mend" and eager to return to the Pentagon. He addressed concerns about transparency in a seven-sentence statement, promising to improve but did not issue an apology for the delayed notification to the public and press, a departure from the usual protocol for hospitalized senior administration and military officials.

Senior administration officials were surprised to hear about Austin's hospitalization and the White House being informed late.

The predominant response has been concern for Austin's well-being, as he is generally popular within the White House.

Nonetheless, authorities conceded that the situation was exceptionally uncommon and were taken aback by the tardiness in notifying the president and senior National Security Council members. During Secretary Austin's hospitalization, Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen Hicks assumed his responsibilities while on vacation in Puerto Rico. Hicks had already been in Puerto Rico before Austin's hospitalization.

Austin has fully resumed his duties, but the congressional oversight committees were not informed of his hospitalization until Friday night, according to three Congressional aides familiar with the situation.

Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder, the Pentagon press secretary, said Friday evening that Austin was "recovering well."

NBC and Politico were first to report some of the details.

This story has been updated with additional information.