Pentagon Chief Faces Questions Over Delayed Notification of Medical Issue
• Pentagon Inspector General to investigate events around Austin's secret hospitalization for prostate cancer and failure to promptly notify staff, White House, Congress, and public • Austin underwent prostate cancer surgery Dec. 22, was hospitalized in ICU Jan. 1, and did not notify Deputy Secretary when transferring authority Jan. 2 • Austin failed to notify White House of cancer diagnosis and hospitalization until Tuesday, over 2 weeks after surgery • Bipartisan criticism over Austin's failure to notify, with Republican Senators alleging he broke the law • Former Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said Austin took a "hell of a risk" and called it an embarrassment to not keep President Biden informed