It was only shortly before the public that US President Biden found out about his defense minister’s cancer – even though the diagnosis had been made weeks before. Now the Pentagon wants to have the processes investigated.
US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin’s weeks of silence about his cancer are prompting an internal ministry investigation.
A Pentagon letter said Inspector General Robert Storch would review “the roles, processes, procedures, responsibilities and actions” related to the secretary’s two hospitalizations in December and January. It should be clarified whether the ministry’s guidelines are sufficient to ensure that in the event of illness, responsibilities are clarified and notification chains work.
White House: “Not optimal”
The White House announced the day before that President Joe Biden had not been informed about his defense secretary’s cancer for about a month. This was “not optimal,” said National Security Council spokesman John Kirby. It should be ensured “that something like this doesn’t happen again.”
The concealment of the disease had drawn criticism – especially since it comes at a time of great security policy challenges, especially due to the wars in the Middle East and Ukraine. There were also calls for Austin to resign.
Illness was diagnosed at the beginning of December
The minister made the illness public on Tuesday. Accordingly, the 70-year-old’s cancer was discovered in its early stages and the prospects for recovery were “excellent”.
According to the White House, the president only found out about the diagnosis a few hours before the public. According to Austin’s doctors, the illness was diagnosed at the beginning of December. Shortly before Christmas he underwent an operation. Complications arose in early January and Austin is still in the hospital.