Federal watchdog to probe Defense Department's handling of Secretary Austin's hospitalization

The Defense Department's inspector general is investigating the agency's handling of Defense Secretary's Lloyd Austin's hospitalization, which was not revealed to President Biden and others until days later.

Inspector General Robert Storch said in a memo Wednesday the objective of the review is to "examine the roles, processes, procedures, responsibilities and actions related to the Secretary of Defense’s hospitalization in December 2023 – January 2024."

He said the objective also is to asses whether the DoD’s policies and procedures are "sufficient to ensure timely and appropriate notifications and the effective transition of authorities as may be warranted due to health-based or other unavailability of senior leadership," according to Fox News.

Austin was admitted Dec. 22, 2023, to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center for a minimally invasive surgical procedure know as prostatectomy – to treat and cure prostate cancer.

He returned Jan. 1 as a result of severe pain from the procedure, caused by a urinary tract infection, and was admitted, Fox also reports. However, the White House reportedly was not notified until Jan.5.