The U.S. Secretary of Defense delegated functions
The U.S. Secretary of Defense delegated functions due to his health condition; therefore, Lloyd Austin is replaced by the Undersecretary.
In this regard, the U.S. Secretary of Defense delegated functions and is already hospitalized to receive treatment for symptoms “suggestive of an emerging bladder problem,” according to a Pentagon report.
Austin was admitted to the intensive care unit at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center and “it is unclear how long he will remain hospitalized,” according to a statement issued Sunday night by hospital officials.
The U.S. Secretary of Defense delegated duties to U.S. Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks, who assumed the functions and duties of the Pentagon’s top Pentagon official shortly before 5 p.m., according to a statement issued Sunday night by hospital officials.
This was announced in a statement issued by Major General Pat Ryder, Pentagon press secretary. The White House, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and Congress were informed.
The rapid notification of Austin’s hospitalization – the first Pentagon statement was issued in less than three hours – came after the secretary of defense acknowledged failures in notifying the government and the public about his earlier hospitalization.
Read more: The political testament of Andrés Manuel López Obrador.
–Sickness of the U.S. Secretary of Defense–.
Austin traveled to the hospital with unclassified and classified communications systems that are necessary for his duties.
The U.S. Secretary of Defense delegated duties, but we recall that he was diagnosed with prostate cancer in early December and underwent a procedure to treat the cancer on December 22.
The procedure required general anesthesia and an overnight stay at Walter Reed.
He returned to the hospital on New Year’s Day after suffering complications as a result of the procedure.
Austin’s unannounced hospitalization, which was not communicated to the media or to President Joe Biden and other senior government officials for days, raised important questions about transparency within the government.
The U.S. Secretary of Defense delegated functions: criticism
Republicans have sharply criticized the Pentagon’s handling of Austin’s illness, and the defense secretary is scheduled to testify before the House Armed Services Committee later this month about his failure to notify senior administration leaders.
Austin remained in the hospital for two weeks, then worked from home for another two weeks as he continued his recovery.
On Feb. 1, in his first press conference since his hospitalization, Austin acknowledged that his handling of the diagnosis and hospitalization had been a mistake.
“We didn’t get it right, and I didn’t get it right. I should have told the president of my cancer diagnosis. I also should have told my team and the American public. And I take full responsibility. I apologize to my teammates and to the American people,” Austin said.
Last week, the Office of the Secretary of Defense completed a 30-day review of the notification procedures surrounding a transfer of responsibilities, and in that regard, given the current context, the U.S. Secretary of Defense delegated functions.
At a press conference Thursday, Ryder said Austin had received the review and was studying it.
Ryder also said that much of the review is classified, but that the Pentagon would try to make as much of it public as possible.
