A senior US official says President Joe Biden does not plan to fire Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin over his failure to inform the president of his hospitalization.
The US defense department announced on Friday that Austin was admitted to a military hospital near Washington on New Year's Day for complications, and that the defense chief had since been hospitalized.
US media have reported that the Pentagon failed to inform the president of Austin's hospital stay for three days.
Members of the opposition Republican Party and other critics say there was a risk management problem.
Speaking to reporters on Monday, White House National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby admitted that there was no notification of Austin's hospitalization for a few days.
But Kirby said that Biden is looking forward to having Austin back at the Pentagon as soon as possible.
He also noted that the Pentagon's notification procedures will be under scrutiny.
Austin is said to be fulfilling his functions from the hospital.
The US defense department announced on Friday that Austin was admitted to a military hospital near Washington on New Year's Day for complications, and that the defense chief had since been hospitalized.
US media have reported that the Pentagon failed to inform the president of Austin's hospital stay for three days.
Members of the opposition Republican Party and other critics say there was a risk management problem.
Speaking to reporters on Monday, White House National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby admitted that there was no notification of Austin's hospitalization for a few days.
But Kirby said that Biden is looking forward to having Austin back at the Pentagon as soon as possible.
He also noted that the Pentagon's notification procedures will be under scrutiny.
Austin is said to be fulfilling his functions from the hospital.
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Summary
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin was admitted to a military hospital for unspecified complications on New Year's Day and was not informed to President Biden for three days. Despite this lapse, Biden does not plan to fire Austin. The Pentagon's notification procedures are under scrutiny, with critics
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ID: d66879a7-aa3e-4597-a6aa-dd08f6d32b64
Category ID: nhk
URL: https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20240109_05/
Date: Jan. 9, 2024
Created: 2024/01/09 14:26
Updated: 2025/12/08 19:11
Last Read: 2024/01/09 14:35