The Pentagon on Sunday released new details about Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin III’s ongoing hospitalization, saying he had undergone a medical procedure in December. 22, went home a day later and was admitted to intensive care on New Year’s Day when he began experiencing severe pain.

The latest information came as members of both parties in Congress expressed keen concerns about the secrecy of Austin’s hospital stay and the fact that President Biden and other senior leaders remained in the dark about it for days.

However, the statement, issued by Air Force Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder, did not provide details about the medical procedure or what actually happened last week that required Austin to be admitted to the intensive care unit at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. .

Ryan said Austin was placed in the hospital’s intensive care unit “due to his medical needs, but then remained in that location in part due to hospital space and privacy considerations.”

The Pentagon’s failure to disclose Austin’s hospitalization for days, including to Biden, the National Security Council and top Pentagon leaders, reflects a stunning lack of transparency about his illness, how serious it was and when he might be released. Such secrecy, when the U.S. is facing numerous national security crises, goes against normal practice toward the president and other senior U.S. officials and Cabinet members.

Ryder said the National Security Council and Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen Hicks were not notified until Thursday that Austin had been hospitalized since Jan. 1. Ryder told Austin’s chief of staff, Kelly Magsamen, that he was ill and could not make any reports before then. He said she notified Hicks and the national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, on Thursday.

US Secretary of Defense meets Zelensky in Kiev to express support for Ukraine

After being briefed, Hicks began preparing statements to send to Congress and made plans to return to Washington. Hicks was on leave in Puerto Rico but had brought communications equipment with him to stay in touch and had already taken on some secretary-level duties on Tuesday.

The Pentagon did not say whether Hicks received an explanation Tuesday about why she took on some of Austin’s duties, but temporary transfers of authority are not unusual and are often done without detailed explanations. Hicks decided not to return after being told Austin would resume full control on Friday.

Biden was told by Sullivan on Thursday about Austin’s medical stay, according to three people with knowledge of the hospitalization who were not authorized to speak publicly and spoke to the Associated Press on condition of anonymity.

In a statement issued Saturday evening, Austin took responsibility for the notification delays.

Congress launches investigation into Osprey program after deadly crash in Japan

I recognize that I could have done better in ensuring that the public was properly informed. “I am committed to doing better,” he said, acknowledging concerns about transparency. But it’s important to say: This was my medical procedure and I take full responsibility for my disclosure decisions.

Austin, 70, remains in the hospital and officials could not say how long he will remain at Walter Reed. In his statement, Austin said he was on the mend and looked forward to returning to the Pentagon soon, but he provided no further details about his ailment.

Sen. Roger Wicker of Mississippi, the top Republican on the Senate Armed Services Committee, said the episode eroded confidence in the Biden administration and called on the department to immediately provide lawmakers with a “full account of the facts.”

“I am pleased to hear that Secretary Austin’s condition is improving and I wish him a speedy recovery,” Wicker said in a statement. The fact remains, however, that the Ministry of Defense deliberately withheld the medical condition of the Minister of Defense for days. unacceptable.

The Pentagon is warning Congress that there is little money available to replace weapons sent to Ukraine

It’s not just Republicans who are expressing alarm. In a joint statement, Reps. Mike Rogers (R-Ala.) and Adam Smith (D-Wash.) said they were concerned about how the disclosure of the secretary’s condition was handled.

Questions they had included what the medical procedure entailed and the resulting complications, how and when the delegation of his responsibilities took place, and the reason for the delay in notifying the president and lawmakers. Rogers is chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, and Smith is the panel’s top Democrat.

Transparency is critical,” the two lawmakers said. Austin must provide these additional details regarding his health and decision-making process over the past week as soon as possible.”

Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken expressed support for Austin at a news conference in Qatar on Sunday.

He is an extraordinary leader in this country, both in uniform and now out of uniform. And being able to serve alongside him was a highlight of my service, Blinken said, adding: “I very much look forward to seeing him fully recovered and working alongside each other next year.

Ryder said Austin was able to perform his full duties, had secure communications at Walter Reed and was in touch with his senior team, receiving updates and providing guidance. He said he did not know if Austin would hold in-person briefings in the coming week.

The Pentagon Press Assn., which represents journalists covering the Defense Department, sent a letter of protest Friday evening, calling the delay in alerting the public to an outrage.

At a time when there are increasing threats to U.S. military personnel in the Middle East and the U.S. plays a major national security role in the wars in Israel and Ukraine, it is particularly important that the American public is informed about the health status and decision-making capabilities of its top defense leader,” the group said in its letter.

Other senior U.S. leaders have been much more transparent about hospital stays. When Atty. General Merrick Garland underwent a routine medical procedure in 2022. His office informed the public a week in advance, outlining how long he was expected to be away and when he would return to work.