Congress demands more information on Defense Secretary Austin's hospitalization

Democrats and Republicans in the House of Representatives are demanding more information on Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin’s hospitalization and why it was kept under wraps for days before it was finally announced.

The top lawmakers on the House Armed Services Committee released a statement on Sunday evening calling for "additional details" on Austin’s condition and why notification was delayed.

"While we wish Sec. Austin a speedy recovery, we are concerned with how the disclosure of the Secretary’s condition was handled," Committee Chairman Mike Rogers, R-Ala., and ranking member Rep. Adam Smith, D-Wash., said.

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 U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin is under scrutiny for how his hospitalization has been handled ((Photo by Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images))

"Several questions remain unanswered including what the medical procedure and resulting complications were, what the Secretary’s current health status is, how and when the delegation of the Secretary’s responsibilities were made, and the reason for the delay in notification to the President and Congress.

"Transparency is vitally important. Sec. Austin must provide these additional details on his health and the decision-making process that occurred in the past week as soon as possible."

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Fox News Digital reached out to the Pentagon for a response.

GOP Conference Chair Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., the No. 3 House Republican, on Monday morning called for Austin’s resignation.

House Armed Services Committee Chairman Mike Rogers, R-Ala., said he wants more information on the situation (Ting Shen/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

"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. 

"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."

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The Pentagon publicly revealed on Friday that Austin was in the hospital due to complications from elective surgery. He had been there since the start of the week.

Austin was hospitalized last Monday but it was not made public knowledge until Friday (Photo by Kim Hong-Ji - Pool/Getty Images)

But a Politico report later revealed that not only were media kept in the dark, but that the highest levels of the White House and top officials in the Pentagon itself were not aware until Thursday Austin was in the hospital.

Democrat Rep. Chris Deluzio, D-Pa., wrote on X Sunday evening, "I serve on the House Armed Services Committee and share the concerns of Chairman Rogers and Ranking Member Smith."

Elizabeth Elkind is a reporter for Fox News Digital focused on Congress as well as the intersection of Artificial Intelligence and politics. Previous digital bylines seen at Daily Mail and CBS News.

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