U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin expressed regret on Thursday for not informing President Joe Biden and senior staff in advance about his recent prostate cancer diagnosis. He acknowledged that the health revelation was a “gut punch” that left him deeply affected.
Additionally, Austin apologized for the handling of his subsequent hospitalization, acknowledging that its secrecy from the public, senior staff, and President Biden for several days was a misstep.
In his initial press conference since the undisclosed hospitalization, Defense Secretary Austin acknowledged President Biden’s gracious and warm-hearted response. Austin expressed gratitude for Biden’s unwavering confidence despite the surprise surrounding his secret hospitalization on January 1.
The secrecy surrounding Austin’s condition caught both the White House and Congress off guard, with even President Biden unaware of Austin’s hospitalization for much of the first week of January.
“I did not handle this right,” Austin said.
The incident sparked a political uproar, with Republicans accusing Austin of dereliction of duty. President Biden, a Democrat, expressed confidence in Austin despite acknowledging a lapse in judgment. Austin clarified that his decision not to disclose the diagnosis earlier was rooted in privacy, not secrecy, as he navigated the delicate balance of personal health matters.
“It was a gut punch,” Austin said referring to his diagnosis.
Despite lingering leg pain, Defense Secretary Austin noted his doctors’ confidence in its improvement over time. Admitted to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center on Dec. 22 for prostate cancer treatment, Austin returned on Jan. 1 due to complications, including a urinary tract infection. The hospitalization’s disclosure occurred four days later, with the Pentagon providing details on the nature of his treatment only on Jan. 9.
Defense Secretary Austin clarified that he never instructed his staff to withhold his January hospitalization information from the White House or the public. He expressed uncertainty about the details conveyed to his deputy, Kathleen Hicks, who temporarily assumed his responsibilities.
Prominent Republicans, including former President Donald Trump, have called for Austin’s removal. As a retired four-star general and the first Black defense secretary, Austin faced criticism. The chair of the U.S. House Armed Services Committee requested Austin to testify before the panel regarding the delayed disclosure of his hospitalization.
“Congress must understand what happened and who made decisions to prevent the disclosure of the whereabouts of a cabinet secretary,” committee chairman Mike Rogers wrote last month.