Pentagon clears itself of wrongdoing — RT World News

An internal Pentagon review into the secrecy surrounding US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin's hospitalization last month has found that although communication processes need to be improved, there were no serious irregularities by senior officials.

“Nothing examined during this review showed any indication of bad faith or attempt at obfuscation.” Pentagon He said Monday in a declassified summary of the 30-day investigation into the incident. Several measures have been adopted to ensure a smooth chain of command, and these steps were deployed when Austin was admitted to hospital again earlier this month for surgery. “Emergency bladder problem.”

Unbeknownst to President Joe Biden and other officials above and below Austin in the US government, the 70-year-old Secretary of Defense underwent surgery for prostate cancer on December 22. Austin suffered severe abdominal pain on January 1 and was taken to the hospital. “precise” He was transferred to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland, where he remained hospitalized with a urinary tract infection until January 13.

Neither White House officials – including Biden – nor Austin's representative, Kathleen Hicks, were informed of his incapacitated condition until January 4. His condition was serious enough for him to be transferred to the intensive care unit on January 2. Puerto Rico at the time filled in for Austin, not knowing he was in the hospital until three days later.

The Pentagon issued a brief public statement about Austin's hospitalization on January 5 and waited until January 9 to reveal for the first time his prostate cancer diagnosis in early December. Austin, a former US Army general and Raytheon board member, is 70 years old.

Austin's staff members were restricted by medical privacy laws when it came to sharing information about his condition and were “Hesitant about the Negev” For details, find the Pentagon Review. “Although, as hindsight has shown, the decision-making process for devolving the Minister’s authority can and should be improved.” The summary said there were no indications of intentional wrongdoing.

Reforms adopted as a result of the review include steps to make MPs more prepared to quickly fill the incapacitated defense minister's position. Austin admitted in a press conference on February 1 that his cancer diagnosis was not handled properly. He added: “I should have also told my team and the American public, and I take full responsibility. I apologize to my teammates and the American people.”

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