Rep. Stefanik Demands Austin’s Resignation

Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., denounced the secrecy surrounding Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin’s hospitalization as “absolutely unacceptable” and called for his resignation Monday.

Austin, who ranks just below President Joe Biden at the top of the U.S. military chain of command, has come under intense scrutiny after it was revealed he withheld that he was hospitalized on New Year’s Day from the president and the public for several days.

On Monday, a White House official said that President Biden is not considering firing Austin, despite his failure to disclose the hospitalization.

“It is shocking and absolutely unacceptable that the Department of Defense waited multiple days to notify the President, the National Security Council, and the American people that Defense Secretary Austin was hospitalized and unable to perform his duties,” Stefanik said in a statement. “In the chain of command, the Secretary of Defense serves as the connection through which the President commands and controls our armed forces.”

“At this dangerous time when American service members are under attack in Iraq and Syria, our closest partner and ally Israel is at war with Hamas terrorists, and the threat from Communist China is on the rise, it is critical that the Secretary of Defense has the full trust of the American people, Congress, and the White House,” she continued. “This concerning lack of transparency exemplifies a shocking lack of judgment and a significant national security threat. There must be full accountability beginning with the immediate resignation of Secretary Austin and those that lied for him and a Congressional investigation into this dangerous dereliction of duty.”

Austin, whose role requires that he be available to respond to a national security crisis at any moment, said Saturday that he takes “full responsibility” for the communication failure.

National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said on Monday that Austin had resumed all authority and was performing his duties from the hospital.

The secretary was admitted to intensive care at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center on Jan. 1 with severe pain after initially being discharged following a minor elective medical procedure on Dec. 22.

The Pentagon did not provide any additional details about the medical procedure Austin had undergone and has not indicated how long he is expected to remain in the hospital.