US Defense Sec. Austin Apologizes for Handling of Medical Absence

Facts

• US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on Thursday said he takes 'full responsibility' and apologizes to his 'teammates and to the American people' for the way his hospitalization late last year was handled.¹
• Addressing reporters for the first time since his medical absence became public, Austin said his first instinct was to keep his cancer diagnosis a secret because it was a 'gut punch.' He added that the news was shocking and that such diagnoses are devastating for many people, especially in the Black community.²
• Austin returned to work at the Pentagon on Monday. Previously, he underwent a surgical procedure for prostate cancer on Dec. 22 and was released, but then he suffered complications that landed him back in the hospital for two weeks.³
• Austin didn't inform the White House or his deputy that he had cancer, had undergone surgery, or was readmitted to the hospital for days.³
• In response, the White House issued new guidelines for a delegation of duty when secretaries are unreachable for medical, travel, or other reasons. This week, Attorney General Merrick Garland announced he will undergo a back procedure on Saturday and will temporarily turn over authority to his deputy.⁴
• Meanwhile, Austin is scheduled to testify about his absence before the House Armed Services Committee on Feb. 14.⁵

Sources: ¹ABC News, ²NBC, ³Associated Press, ⁴USA Today and ⁵New York Times.

Narratives

• Republican narrative, as provided by Red State. It's no coincidence that this mismanaged incident coincides with the death of the three US service members in Jordan. This has been a failure of leadership from the time Austin entered the hospital without telling his bosses through his attempt to work through his recovery. The lack of coordination and transparency has had tragic consequences and Austin and the administration must be held to account.
• Democratic narrative, as provided by Washington Post. Austin is back on the job because he's restored competence and calmness to his position. Although he had a lapse of judgment in not disclosing his absence, the military chain of command was never broken. Anger over the death of service members overseas is understandable, but rhetoric blaming Austin and the administration is irrational.

Predictions