The Pentagon stated on Monday that privacy concerns and protocol considerations contributed to maintaining secrecy about US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin’s cancer treatment. However, no evidence of wrongdoing or intentional cover-up was found.
Austin did not inform President Joe Biden of his prostate cancer diagnosis for weeks, with the commander-in-chief and Congress learning about Austin’s hospitalization on January 1 due to complications from treatment days after the fact.
The Pentagon, in an unclassified summary of the review ordered by the Defense Secretary’s chief of staff, stated, “Nothing examined in this review gives any indication of wrongdoing or an attempt to conceal.” It highlighted that medical privacy laws prevented healthcare providers from sharing information with Department personnel, who also hesitated to interfere or share any knowledge.
The summary mentioned the “absence of an established methodology for making… an unplanned decision” to transfer the secretary’s authority to his deputy, potentially contributing to the lack of a complete information exchange.
Austin, a 70-year-old career soldier, underwent minor cancer treatment surgery on December 22, returning home the next day. However, he was hospitalized again on January 1 due to complications, including nausea and severe pain.
The White House was not informed about Austin’s hospitalization until January 4, and Congress learned about it the following day. President Biden only became aware of the cancer diagnosis on January 9. Some Republican lawmakers called for Austin’s replacement, but President Biden chose to retain him.
On February 11, Austin was hospitalized again and treated under general anesthesia for bladder issues. This time, the information was made public just two hours after the procedure, with the White House, Congress, and the military being promptly notified. Austin was discharged two days later.