{"id":2170335,"date":"2024-02-07T14:41:03","date_gmt":"2024-02-07T19:41:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/def-sec-austin-agrees-to-testify-before-congress-about-secretive-hospitalization\/"},"modified":"2024-02-07T14:43:03","modified_gmt":"2024-02-07T19:43:03","slug":"def-sec-austin-agrees-to-testify-before-congress-about-secretive-hospitalization","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/def-sec-austin-agrees-to-testify-before-congress-about-secretive-hospitalization\/","title":{"rendered":"Sec Austin to testify before Congress on secretive hospitalization"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">18<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fdef-sec-austin-agrees-to-testify-before-congress-about-secretive-hospitalization%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2170335&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><h2>Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin to Testify Before Congress About Secret Hospitalization<\/h2>\n<p>Defense Secretary\u200b <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dailywire.com\/topic\/lloyd-austin\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Lloyd Austin<\/a> \u2063has agreed to testify before\u200d <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dailywire.com\/topic\/congress\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Congress<\/a> regarding his secretive hospitalization for complications <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dailywire.com\/news\/walter-reed-medical-center-reveals-why-lloyd-austin-was-hospitalized\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">following a procedure to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/sen-thom-tillis-says-he-will-undergo-surgery-for-prostate-cancer\/\" title=\"Sen. Thom Tillis Says He Will Undergo Surgery For Prostate Cancer\">treat prostate cancer<\/a><\/a>, according to a House panel.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>A spokesperson for the House Armed Services Committee <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/ChadPergram\/status\/1755004677186318829\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">told<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/Olivia_Beavers\/status\/1754999823013486875\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">the media<\/a> on Tuesday that\u2062 the Department of Defense (DoD) \u200c\u201cconfirmed\u201d Austin would appear before the panel on February 29 to discuss \u201chis failure to disclose his hospitalization.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Chairman Mike Rogers (R-AL) <a href=\"https:\/\/armedservices.house.gov\/sites\/republicans.armedservices.house.gov\/files\/01.18.23%20Austin%20Invite%20Scan.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">sent<\/a> \u2062 a letter to\u200d Austin \u200clast month, calling on the secretary to\u2063 testify \u2062because of\u200b his \u201cunwillingness to provide candid and\u2063 complete answers\u201d sought by the committee. Although he initially picked February\u200d 14 for a hearing, Rogers <a href=\"https:\/\/www.politico.com\/news\/2024\/02\/06\/austin-testify-hospitalization-00139981\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">told<\/a> POLITICO that Austin had a \u201cdate \u200dconflict.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Austin, 70, faced controversy\u200b after \u200bthe revelation that the secretary had been hospitalized on January 1 and delegated some of his duties to\u200d a deputy without informing officials at the\u200d White House\u2062 and Congress.<\/p>\n<p>Some critics, including GOP \u2064lawmakers and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/search?q=trump+austin+daily+wire&#038;sca_esv=248f942d9b8c3839&#038;ei=rd23ZaniIeWxqtsP1MqKmAk&#038;ved=0ahUKEwjp7KWSjYOEAxXlmGoFHVSlApMQ4dUDCBA&#038;uact=5&#038;oq=trump+austin+daily+wire&#038;gs_lp=Egxnd3Mtd2l6LXNlcnAiF3RydW1wIGF1c3RpbiBkYWlseSB3aXJlSPYQUI4BWPEPcAN4AJABAJgBfqABsgmqAQQwLjExuAEDyAEA-AEB4gMEGAEgQYgGAQ&#038;sclient=gws-wiz-serp\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">former President Donald Trump<\/a>, \u200bcalled for Austin\u2019s ouster as more details emerged,\u200d including\u200d that Austin kept his\u200d cancer diagnosis under wraps until the story broke.<\/p>\n<p>Multiple <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dailywire.com\/news\/pentagon-inspector-general-announces-review-of-austin-going-mia\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">inquiries<\/a> ensued, \u200band\u2064 the White House <a href=\"https:\/\/www.politico.com\/news\/2024\/01\/26\/white-house-cabinet-austin-00138188\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">released<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/president-joe-biden-white-house-lloyd-austin-cabinet-f3e03c04ff7d9a0ab062a57ac181bb8f#:~:text=From%20now%20on%2C%20Cabinet%20agencies,once%20that%20delegation%20has%20ended.\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">new guidelines<\/a> for Cabinet secretaries\u2062 to enhance \u200btransparency rules when authority is delegated to a subordinate.<\/p>\n<p>The DoD <a href=\"https:\/\/www.defense.gov\/News\/Releases\/Release\/Article\/3658716\/secretary-of-defense-lloyd-j-austin-iii-returns-to-work-at-the-pentagon\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">said<\/a> Austin had resumed his duties from home after being released from \u200cthe hospital on January 15, and the secretary \u200c <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dailywire.com\/news\/def-sec-austin-returns-to-pentagon-addresses-health-situation\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">returned<\/a> to work at the Pentagon\u200d on January \u200c29.<\/p>\n<p>During a press\u2062 conference\u200c last week, Austin <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dailywire.com\/news\/austin-denies-requesting-subtle-ride-to-hospital-blames-aide-should-come-out-in-the-review\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">expressed remorse<\/a> \u200bfor\u2063 how his cancer diagnosis and hospitalization were handled.<\/p>\n<p><b><a href=\"https:\/\/onelink.to\/dwapp\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" aria-describedby=\"sk-tooltip-9096\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?q=https:\/\/onelink.to\/dwapp&#038;source=gmail&#038;ust=1700760801843000&#038;usg=AOvVaw2PQrVSrJfhxNb4LcARqniG\">CLICK \u200cHERE TO\u200c GET \u200dTHE\u2064 DAILYWIRE+ APP<\/a><\/b><\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe did not \u2063handle this right, and \u2064I did not handle this right,\u201d Austin said. \u201cI should\u2019ve told the president about my cancer diagnosis. \u2064I should have \u200dalso \u200btold my \u200cteam \u200dand the American public.\u200b And I take full responsibility. I apologize to my\u2064 teammates and to\u2062 the American people.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Austin also <a href=\"https:\/\/www.defense.gov\/News\/Transcripts\/Transcript\/Article\/3663627\/secretary-of-defense-lloyd-j-austin-iii-press-conference\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">acknowledged<\/a> that Congress \u201chad some very relevant \u200bquestions that they\u2019ve asked us, and we will continue \u200cto \u200banswer\u2062 those questions\u201d\u200b as well as tackle any \u201cissues\u201d raised by Rogers.<\/p>\n<p>A Pentagon spokesperson \u2063previously \u2063 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.military.com\/daily-news\/2024\/01\/19\/defense-secretary-austin-summoned-capitol-hill-testimony-about-secret-hospitalization.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">told \u2063the press<\/a> the DoD \u201cprovided the committee three letters \u200din a good-faith \u2063effort to respond to the committee as expeditiously as possible, recognizing that there is an\u200c internal 30-day\u2064 review underway, and the DoD\u2064 inspector general\u2064 is conducting\u2063 his own\u200b review.\u201d<\/p>\n<p> <\/p>\n<h2> What specific information does Congress seek from Secretary Austin regarding his hospitalization and subsequent \u2063actions? <\/h2>\n<p><span>  Etary has been\u200b working remotely since then. However, his hospitalization and lack of disclosure have raised concerns and prompted calls for \u2064his testimony before Congress.<\/p>\n<p>The House Armed Services \u2064Committee spokesperson confirmed that Secretary Austin has agreed to testify before\u2063 the panel on February\u200b 29 regarding his failure to disclose his \u2063hospitalization. This \u2063comes after Chairman Mike Rogers sent a letter to Austin last month, expressing dissatisfaction with the secretary&#8217;s unwillingness to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/experts-photo-of-chauvin-juror-in-blm-shirt-undeniably-suggestive-of-a-possible-bias\/\" title=\"Experts: Photo Of Chauvin Juror In BLM Shirt \u2018Undeniably Suggestive Of A Possible Bias\u2019\">provide complete answers<\/a> to \u2062the\u2063 committee&#8217;s inquiries.<\/p>\n<p>The controversy \u2064surrounding Austin \u200cbegan when it was revealed that he had been hospitalized on January 1 for complications following a procedure to treat prostate cancer.\u2063 During \u200chis hospitalization, Austin delegated some of his duties to a deputy without informing the White House and Congress. This lack of transparency\u200c and disclosure has drawn criticism from GOP lawmakers and former President Donald Trump, who have called for Austin&#8217;s removal from office.<\/p>\n<p>In response to the growing scrutiny, multiple\u200d inquiries were launched, including an investigation by the \u200bPentagon Inspector General. The White House also released new guidelines for Cabinet secretaries \u2062to ensure transparency when \u200ddelegating \u200bauthority to a subordinate.<\/p>\n<p>The Department of Defense has stated that \u2063Secretary Austin resumed his duties from home after being\u2063 released from\u200d the hospital on January 15 and has\u200b been working remotely since \u200bthen. \u200cHowever,\u200b the lingering questions and concerns surrounding his hospitalization and lack of\u2063 disclosure warrant his testimony before Congress.<\/p>\n<p>It is crucial for Secretary Austin to appear before \u2063Congress to address \u2064these concerns and provide the necessary transparency on his hospitalization and subsequent actions. As a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/georgia-judge-orders-hearing-on-fani-willis-misconduct-allegations\/\" title=\"Georgia judge schedules hearing for Fani Willis misconduct claims\">public servant entrusted<\/a> with the defense of the nation, it is \u200dvital that he upholds the highest standards of accountability and honesty. Testifying before Congress \u2063will allow Secretary Austin to explain his actions, provide the\u200b necessary information\u2062 to the committee, and ensure \u2062that\u200c there is transparency and trust in the Department of Defense.<\/p>\n<p>Moving forward, \u2063it\u200c is essential for the House Armed \u200cServices Committee\u200c to thoroughly\u200c examine the secretary&#8217;s testimony and determine whether any further \u200daction is necessary. This incident highlights the importance\u2063 of open communication and transparency in government institutions and\u2064 emphasizes the need for leaders to \u2062be held accountable for their actions.<\/p>\n<p>In conclusion, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin&#8217;s decision to testify before\u2064 Congress about his secret hospitalization is a step towards transparency and accountability. It is vital for him to\u2063 address the concerns raised \u2063by his failure \u200bto disclose his hospitalization and provide a thorough explanation of his \u200dactions. This testimony will allow for a better understanding \u200bof the situation and ensure \u200ctrust \u200cin the Department of Defense.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin will testify before Congress regarding his undisclosed hospitalization due to complications from prostate cancer treatment. The House Armed Services Committee confirmed that Austin will appear before the panel on February, as stated by a Department of Defense spokesperson<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1588,"featured_media":2170336,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/dw-wp-production.imgix.net\/2024\/02\/GettyImages-1993010294-scaled-e1707330937175.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[541],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2170335","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-daily-wire"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/dw-wp-production.imgix.net\/2024\/02\/GettyImages-1993010294-scaled-e1707330937175.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2170335","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1588"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2170335"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2170335\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2170336"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2170335"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2170335"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2170335"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}