Current:Home > ScamsBiden isn't considering firing Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, White House official says-Angel Dreamer Wealth Society D1 Reviews & Insights
Biden isn't considering firing Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, White House official says
View Date:2024-12-23 15:51:31
President Biden is not considering firing Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin after he and other Pentagon officials failed to report his hospitalization to the White House for days, a White House official told CBS News.
Lloyd was admitted to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center last week after suffering complications from an elective surgical procedure, and even Mr. Biden wasn't informed he was in intensive care for days. Austin is recovering, but the Pentagon hasn't disclosed details of Austin's ailment.
The Pentagon said Austin underwent the elective surgery on Dec. 22, and he went home the next day. But on New Year's Day, Austin began to experience severe pain and was admitted to intensive care. He transferred some of his duties to his deputy, Kathleen Hicks, but neither she nor the White House were informed of his hospitalization at the time.
Austin said in a statement that he recognizes he "could have done a better job ensuring the public was appropriately informed" and added, "I commit to doing better."
Reuters first reported Mr. Biden isn't considering removing Austin as defense secretary.
A defense official said Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. C.Q. Brown was informed that Austin was in the hospital on Jan. 2. But Brown, the president's principal military adviser, did not inform the White House.
Over the weekend, after Austin's hospitalization and his failure to report his condition to the White House was made public, the White House insisted the president has "full confidence" in Austin.
Austin has now resumed his full duties.
But he's facing criticism from some Republicans in Congress for the failure to report his condition. Rep. Elise Stefanik, the GOP conference chair, called for his resignation.
"It is shocking and absolutely unacceptable that the Department of Defense waited multiple days to notify the president, the National Security Council, and the American people that Defense Secretary Austin was hospitalized and unable to perform his duties," she said.
Weijia Jiang and David Martin contributed to this report.
- In:
- Biden Administration
- Joe Biden
- Lloyd Austin
- Politics
- White House
- United States Department of Defense
Kathryn Watson is a politics reporter for CBS News Digital based in Washington, D.C.
veryGood! (22684)
Related
- A list of mass killings in the United States this year
- Coast Guard rescues 2 from capsized boat off Georgia coast
- Not Sure How To Clean Your Dishwasher and Washing Machine? These Pods Will Last a Whole Year
- You Probably Missed This Sighting of Ariana Grande and Ethan Slater Together
- US Diplomats Notch a Win on Climate Super Pollutants With Help From the Private Sector
- Travis Barker Pens Heartbreaking Letter to Teen Drummer After His Death
- 3 injured in shooting outside Philadelphia bar, police say
- Doja Cat Argues With Fans After Dissing Their Kittenz Fandom Name
- Roy Haynes, Grammy-winning jazz drummer, dies at 99: Reports
- Tony Bennett and Susan Crow's Love Story Will Fly You to the Moon
Ranking
- 2024 'virtually certain' to be warmest year on record, scientists say
- Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds' Matilda Date Night Is Sweet as Honey
- Vanderpump Rules' Scheana Shay Claps Back at Claim She's Forgiven Tom Sandoval for Cheating
- Woman found dead after suspected bear encounter near Yellowstone
- 25 monkeys caught but more still missing after escape from research facility in SC
- Retired MLS Goalkeeper Brad Knighton's 11-Year-Old Daughter Olivia Killed in Boating Accident
- Carlee Russell Admits Kidnapping Was a Hoax
- Leo Shoppable Horoscope: 11 Birthday Gifts To Help the Lioness Roar
Recommendation
-
10 Trendy Bags To Bring to All of Your Holiday Plans
-
Inside Gisele Bündchen's Birthday Girls' Trip With Daughter Vivian and Twin Sister Patricia
-
Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds' Matilda Date Night Is Sweet as Honey
-
More than 80 million Americans remain under heat alerts
-
Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan says next year will be his last in office; mum on his plans afterward
-
Tony Bennett Dead at 96: Anderson Cooper, Carson Daly and More Honor the Legendary Singer
-
Restock Alert: The Viral SKIMS Soft Lounge Dress Is Back in New Colors and Styles
-
What is AI? Experts weigh in