Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin's Hospitalization and Chain of Command

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin's aides made the decision to transfer his authorities to his deputy when he was hospitalized without informing President Biden, leading to a breakdown in the chain of command. Austin blamed his staff for not informing the president sooner and claimed there was no break in command and control.

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin's Hospitalization and Democrats' Defense

During a congressional hearing, Democrats defended Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin's failure to inform President Joe Biden of being in the hospital for three days amid two wars and troops under attack. They argued there were more important issues, such as funding for Ukraine, and commended Austin for taking accountability and making recommendations to avoid such incidents in the future.

Lack of Communication Between Secretary of Defense and President Biden

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin testified that it is common for him to go for days without speaking to President Joe Biden, sparking concerns about the lack of communication between the two officials.