The following is the Jan. 10, 2025, DoD Inspector General’s report on Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin’s hospitalization in early 2024.
From the report
The DoD OIG initiated this review on January 10, 2024, with two stated objectives. First, the review examined the processes, procedures, and actions related to the transfer of functions and duties from Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III (Secretary Austin), to Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks (Deputy Secretary Hicks), during Secretary Austin’s hospitalizations in December 2023, January 2024, and February 2024.1 The DoD uses the term “Assumption of Functions and Duties” (AFD) to identify the collective processes, procedures, and actions related to this issue.2
(This review also assessed whether the DoD’s policies and procedures are sufficient to ensure timely and appropriate notifications and the effective assumption of functions and duties by the Deputy Secretary or other senior DoD leadership in the chain of succession as may be warranted due to health-based or other unavailability of the Secretary or the Deputy Secretary.
A. Origin of the Issues Under Review
Secretary Austin underwent a scheduled prostatectomy at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center (WRNMMC) on December 22, 2023. In preparation for the medical procedure, he directed a transfer of authorities to Deputy Secretary Hicks effective December 22, 2023, and resumed those authorities on December 23, 2023. Secretary Austin experienced medical complications on January 1, 2024, and was transported to WRNMMC by ambulance and admitted to the hospital. Secretary Austin’s condition worsened on January 2, 2024, and, that afternoon, his staff directed a transfer of authorities to Deputy Secretary Hicks.
On January 5, 2024, the DoD issued a press release stating that Secretary Austin had been admitted to WRNMMC on January 1, 2024, “for complications following a recent elective medical procedure.” The press release stated, “At all times, the Deputy Secretary of Defense was prepared to act for and exercise the powers of the Secretary, if required.” Numerous media outlets reported concerns about the DoD’s perceived lack of transparency regarding Secretary Austin’s hospitalization. The reports included concerns about whether Secretary Austin was incapacitated or under general anesthesia while in the hospital.4
The DoD issued a statement from Secretary Austin on January 6, 2024, about his medical care. Secretary Austin stated, in part:
I also understand the media concerns about transparency and I recognize I could have done a better job ensuring the public was appropriately informed. I commit to doing better. But this is important to say: this was my medical procedure, and I take full responsibility for decisions about disclosure.
A number of Members of Congress wrote letters during the period of January 9 through 11, 2024, to Secretary Austin, Deputy Secretary Hicks, and Ms. Kelly Magsamen, Chief of Staff to Secretary Austin, conveying concerns and questions about whether appropriate officials in the DoD, White House, and Congress had been notified in a timely fashion about Secretary Austin’s hospitalization.
Download the report here.
