WASHINGTON — U.S. Rep. Chris Deluzio on Wednesday called on Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin to resign after the Pentagon leader was secretly hospitalized and hadn’t told the Biden administration about his prostate cancer diagnosis.
Mr. Deluzio, D-Aspinwall, a freshman congressman and former Navy officer, became the first Democrat to publicly push for Mr. Austin’s ouster.
“I have lost trust in Secretary Lloyd Austin’s leadership of the Defense Department due to the lack of transparency about his recent medical treatment and its impact on the continuity of the chain of command,” Mr. Deluzio posted on X. “I have a solemn duty in Congress to conduct oversight of the Defense Department through my service on the House Armed Services Committee. That duty today requires me to call on Secretary Austin to resign.”
Mr. Deluzio also thanked the secretary for his service and wished him “a speedy recovery.”
Mr. Austin, 70, went to the hospital on Dec. 22 for what the Pentagon press secretary called an “elective procedure” but one serious enough that Mr. Austin temporarily transferred some of his authorities to his deputy, without telling her or other U.S. leaders why. He went home the following day.
He also transferred some of his authorities to Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen Hicks after experiencing severe pain and being taken back to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center by ambulance and put into intensive care on Jan. 1 — though Ms. Hicks was not told the reason for three days. The White House was not informed Mr. Austin was in the hospital until Jan. 4, and the public and Congress didn't learn of it until a day later.
The Pentagon has announced its own internal review and in a memo issued Monday broadened the circle of leaders who would be informed of any delegation of authorities by the defense secretary to ensure that, in the future, “proper and timely notification has been made to the President and White House and, as appropriate, the United States Congress and the American public.”
Several Republican lawmakers have called for Mr. Austin’s resignation and said the matter raises questions about President Joe Biden’s leadership.
While Mr. Biden has said he would not fire Mr. Austin, the White House ordered a review and issued a memo to all Cabinet members to ensure they let the administration know whenever they must delegate authorities to staff, The New York Times reported.
According to the doctors, the cancer was detected when Mr. Austin had a regular screening in early December. The said he “underwent a minimally invasive surgical procedure” and went home the next day. But on Jan. 1 he reported nausea and severe abdominal, hip and leg pain due to the infection.
They said his prostate cancer was detected early, and his prognosis is excellent.
Benjamin Kail: bkail@post-gazette.com; @BenKail
First Published: January 10, 2024, 10:24 p.m.
Updated: January 11, 2024, 6:52 p.m.