Pentagon inspector general to review handling of Austin’s hospitalization

The Pentagon’s internal watchdog will review notification procedures and policy after a scandal erupted over Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin’s failure to promptly notify key officials of his absence during a hospitalization for prostate cancer.

The office of Pentagon Inspector General Robert Storch announced the review Wednesday, noting officials would “examine the roles, processes, procedures, responsibilities, and actions related to the Secretary of Defense’s hospitalization.”

The Defense Department watchdog said it will also assess whether “policies and procedures are sufficient to ensure timely and appropriate notifications and the effective transition of authorities as may be warranted due to health-based or other unavailability of senior leadership.”

The Pentagon is conducting its own, internal 30-day review of the incident after coming under fire for failing to immediately notify President Biden, the White House and top Pentagon officials of Austin’s hospitalization.

The White House this week ordered a review of protocols on how Cabinet officials delegate authority and also said departments must notify the Office of Cabinet Affairs and the White House chief of staff when a Cabinet secretary delegates their duties.

Austin was diagnosed with prostate cancer in early December but did not inform Biden until this week.

Austin was hospitalized with a urinary tract infection Jan. 1 following his Dec. 22 cancer surgery. He spent days in the intensive care unit of Walter Reed National Military Medical Center until recovering and resuming full duties Jan. 5.

Biden did not learn of Austin’s Jan. 1 hospitalization until three days later. Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks, who assumed the full duties of the Pentagon from Jan. 2-5, also did not learn of the hospitalization until Jan. 4.