Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said Thursday that he never told his staff to keep his cancer surgery and hospitalization a secret from the White House, but acknowledged that he should have handled it differently and apologized for no longer being allowed to keep the president.

Joe

Biden and others have been in the dark for weeks.

We didn’t handle this well and I didn’t handle this well. I should have told the president about my cancer diagnosis. I take full responsibility, Austin told reporters in a lengthy Pentagon briefing. I apologized directly to President Biden and told him that I deeply regret not immediately informing him that I have been given a serious diagnosis and am receiving treatment.

Known as a very private man, Austin gave his most extensive commentary yet about the secrecy surrounding his cancer diagnosis and struggles with complications since his Dec. 1 surgery. 22.

It was the first time he had answered questions from reporters since his cancer surgery, and his answers were often downright personal, offering rare insights into the deeply personal issue.

The news shocked me. Austin, 70, said he was first diagnosed in early December. It was a good blow. And honestly, my first instinct was to keep it private.

Although he said he “never instructed anyone to keep my January hospitalization out of the White House,” Austin dodged questions about any impact on his staff or the decisions they made about disclosure.

He said he doesn’t believe he has created a culture of secrecy in his office. And he said he did not tell his aides to ask first responders not to use flashing lights and sirens when calling an ambulance on Jan. 1. But he acknowledged there will be security officers, and there will be other staff members who might notice that. they do things in my best interest.

His lack of disclosure led to changes in federal guidelines and prompted an internal review by the Pentagon and an inspector general into his department’s notification procedures. Both investigations are ongoing and members of Congress have called for hearings on the matter.

Austin was taken by ambulance to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center on January 1 after experiencing extreme pain due to complications during surgery. The next day he was admitted to intensive care. He was released from the hospital on January 15.

He transferred decision-making authority to Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen Hicks, but did not tell her why. Some top officials were informed of his hospitalization on January 2, but no one told the White House or the president until two days later.

His hospitalization was publicly announced on January 5, but his cancer diagnosis and surgery were not announced until the following week.

A key question is why Austin’s chief of staff, Kelly Magsamen, or his senior military aide, Lt. General Ron Clark did not inform the White House and key leaders any faster.

Austin’s solo appearance in the Pentagon briefing room was also a rare moment. He is known for avoiding the media as much as possible. But he seemed calm and even joked a few times during the 35 minutes

Press

news conference. His persistent pain in his leg was evident as he walked cautiously to the podium, but he said he expects to recover, although this will be gradual and take time.

Pressed about why he didn’t tell the president and others about his diagnosis and surgery, Austin said, “I’m a pretty private guy.” I don’t like burdening others with my problems. It’s just not my way. He added that the president has a lot of things on his plate and he did not want to add his personal matter to it.

“I apologize to my colleagues and to the American people,” he said.

He said he learned from the experience. Taking on this kind of work means losing some of the privacy most of us expect, he said. The American people have a right to know if their leaders are experiencing health problems that could affect their ability to perform their duties, even temporarily. Such a wider circle should have been informed, especially the President.

Austin also recognized that he had missed a crucial opportunity to use his prostate examination and early detection of the cancer as a teaching moment for his many male troops and workers throughout the department, and, more importantly, for the African American population.

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer among American men. It affects 1 in 8 men and 1 in 6 African American men during their lifetime.

“I’m here with a clear message to other men, especially older men,” Austin said. Get screened and get your regular checkups. Prostate cancer has a glass jaw. If your doctor can detect it, they can treat and beat it.

When Biden was asked about the matter earlier in January, he said it was an error of judgment for Austin not to tell him about his hospitalization, but he said he still has confidence in his Pentagon chief.

Austin, who worked from home for two weeks after being released from the hospital, returned to work at the Pentagon on Monday. He hadn’t been in the building since December. 21.