- Biden won’t dismiss Austin
- GOP demands accountability
- Austin’s hospitalization sparks controversy
Ahead of Republican demands for the Pentagon chief’s dismissal, US President Joe Biden has no intention of dismissing Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin for failing to disclose his hospitalization for several days, according to the White House.
In the US military’s chain of command, Austin, 70, is positioned just below Biden, a Democrat. Since his arrival on New Year’s Day, he has been admitted to the hospital.
On Monday, National Security Council spokesman John Kirby informed reporters aboard Air Force One, “There is no alternative course of action other than for Secretary Austin to remain in his position and continue the leadership that has been demonstrated.”
“In order to learn from this, we will employ a methodology similar to a hot wash to determine whether processes and procedures require modification or alteration.”
Concerned that the conflict could spread to the Middle East, Austin has been criticized for failing to provide the president and the public with an immediate update on his hospitalization during the Gaza Strip war.
Former President Donald Trump, a Republican and likely opponent of Biden in the upcoming presidential election in November, has argued that Austin’s lack of transparency merits termination, describing it as “dereliction of duty and improper professional conduct.”
Trump’s Critique and GOP Demands
Trump posted the following on his social media platform Truth Social: “He has been missing for one week. And nobody, not even his boss, Crooked Joe Biden, knew where he was or might be.”
Elise Stefanik, a Republican House Armed Services Committee member from New York, pushed Houston Austin to resign.
Concerned that the conflict could spread to the Middle East, Austin has been criticized. He failed to provide the president and the public with an immediate update on his hospitalization during the Gaza Strip war.
Biden had “complete confidence” in Austin, according to White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, who told reporters as much.
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Houston’s health and recovery are the “primary concerns,” according to Kirby.
His authorities have been reinstated in full. Already, he is performing every function that he normally performs. He stated that he is currently performing the action from the hospital.
Austin’s hospitalization was concealed to a greater extent than was previously disclosed. His deputy and others with close ties to Biden were not informed of Austin’s medical condition, as was disclosed on Sunday.
The White House and the National Security Council were not informed of the situation until Thursday afternoon, according to Kirby.
Austin is undergoing treatment for a medical condition for which the United States government has not disclosed information. Biden and Austin have conversed in recent days, although Kirby stated he was unaware of that information.
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