WASHINGTON (NewsNation) — The Defense Department’s inspector general’s office said Thursday it will begin a review this month of the handling of Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin’s recent hospitalization.
Robert Storch, the inspector general, said in a memo addressed to Austin, Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen Hicks and other officials, that it will examine “the roles, processes, procedures, responsibilities, and actions related to the Secretary of Defense’s hospitalization.”
Additionally, the memo said it would “assess 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.”
Storch said his team would perform its work “at the Office of the Secretary of Defense,” but “may identify additional offices and personnel who might have information relevant to our review.”
Austin underwent a “minimally invasive” surgical procedure to treat and cure prostate cancer on Dec. 22.
The Pentagon came under fire for not disclosing information regarding Austin’s hospitalization and communication lapse that left top Pentagon officials and the White House uninformed for days.