Defense chief on the defensive: Lawmakers to confront Austin on secret hospital stay
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin is expected to face Congress publicly for the first time this week to explain his failure to quickly notify the president and other senior leaders about his hospitalization last month for complications from prostate cancer surgery
WASHINGTON (AP) — Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin will face Congress publicly for the first time Thursday to explain his failure to quickly notify the president and other senior leaders about his hospitalization last month for complications from prostate cancer surgery.
The lapse has raised questions about whether there were gaps in the command and control of the nation's armed forces, including its nuclear arsenal. The Pentagon has insisted there was no break in control as Austin transferred authorities to the deputy secretary.
Austin's remarks to the committee will likely mirror a mea culpa that he delivered in a press briefing early this month. He has taken full responsibility for the communications failures and apologized, and the department has ordered a number of changes and improvement in the procedures.
