The emergency phone conversation that resulted in US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin being hospitalized on New Year’s Day has been made public by officials.
Investigations and political controversy have resulted from Mr. Austin’s tardiness in informing White House officials and associates about his cancer and surgical problems.
An unknown caller requested on the recording that the ambulance strive to be “subtle” and refrain from using its lights or sirens.
The retired general spent two weeks in the hospital before being released on Monday.
The 70-year-old’s “minimally invasive” prostate surgery in December caused difficulties, which led to his admission to an intensive care unit on January 1.
In the US military’s chain of command, the secretary of defense ranks immediately below the president.
Biden claims the Defense Secretary made a mistake in judgment.
Following a freedom of information request, Virginia officials released the heavily redacted four-minute call on Tuesday. The callers, who remain anonymous, request that Mr. Austin be taken to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Maryland.
“Is it possible the ambulance won’t arrive with sirens and lights? The caller told the emergency dispatcher, “We’re trying to remain a little subtle.” The caller’s name was removed from the recording.
It was not until three days following Mr. Austin’s re-admission that senior defense officials and the White House were informed of his terrible illness.
Concerns about security and transparency were raised by this secrecy, and three inquiries into how his health issue was handled have since been started. Later thereafter, the Pentagon disclosed that Mr. Austin had received a prostate cancer diagnosis.
According to Pentagon sources, Mr. Austin will work remotely from home while he heals. It is anticipated that he will fully recover.
From his hospital bed this week, Mr. Austin gave the go-ahead for several strikes in the Red Sea against Houthi insurgents headquartered in Yemen.
Karine Jean-Pierre, the press secretary for the White House, stated on Tuesday that the president had spoken with Mr. Austin over the phone last week.
Ms. Jean-Pierre stated, “The president is anticipating the secretary’s return to the Pentagon.” “The secretary was very much engaged and involved in what we’re seeing in the Middle East.”
The president has stated that he has complete faith in Mr. Austin, despite the calls from some prominent Republicans for Mr. Biden to fire his defense secretary.
However, he conceded that the military chief’s failure to notify the White House of his hospitalization was a mistake.