Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Roger Wicker (R-MS) and 11 Republican senators are calling for accountability after a Department of Defense (DoD) inspector general (IG) report revealed that Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin failed to notify the White House and Congress of multiple hospitalizations. The report concluded Austin violated the Federal Vacancies Reform Act (FVRA) and left critical defense responsibilities unaddressed during his incapacitation.
The IG report, released as the Biden administration nears its conclusion, found Austin failed to transfer authority during hospitalizations in December 2023, January 2024, and June 2024. These absences coincided with major global crises, including escalating tensions in Ukraine, increased terrorist activities, and Chinese surveillance balloon incursions. The senators’ letter, sent Thursday, criticized Austin for jeopardizing national security and urged President Joe Biden to take immediate action in his final days in office.
The letter highlights that during Austin’s absences, “no one in Congress or in your administration knew” about his inability to perform his duties. The report also detailed that Deputy Secretary Kathleen Hicks assumed some responsibilities without proper notification to Congress or the White House, compounding the risks to national security. Notably, the IG warned that the situation left the U.S. nuclear enterprise vulnerable.
The IG report revealed troubling details, including that Austin transferred authority to Hicks without informing her of the reasons. In January 2024, despite being hospitalized for over 10 days and undergoing multiple procedures requiring sedation, Austin delayed transferring authority and did not notify senior officials. The report also found that in some cases, emergency responders were instructed not to use lights or sirens, raising questions about transparency.
In their letter, senators criticized Austin for “betraying his office” and “fumbling the nuclear football.” They demanded Biden hold him accountable for his “multiple failures to comply with the law.” Signatories included Sens. Deb Fischer (R-NE), Tom Cotton (R-AR), Rick Scott (R-FL), and others.
The IG’s findings underscore the risks posed by gaps in leadership during crises and highlight the urgent need for reforms to ensure continuity of command in the Department of Defense.
