A report has found that Secretary Austin's secret hospitalizations unnecessarily increased US national security risks.

The OIG report found that Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin's secret hospitalizations increased America's national security risk "unnecessarily."

The Pentagon watchdog's critical 188-page report examines the secretary's hospitalizations in December 2023, January 2024, and February 2024, and holds Austin's team accountable for communication breakdowns and failure to delegate authority.

The breakdown of communications within the Pentagon, as well as between the Defense Department and the White House and Congress, was mainly due to Austin's strong desire for privacy about his medical condition.

Nearly all of Austin's staff, including his chief of staff and Deputy Defense Secretary Hicks, were unaware of his cancer diagnosis and the procedure he underwent in December 2023.

According to evidence, on January 1, 2024, when Austin was taken to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center for "severe" pain, he requested that the ambulance not use lights or sirens. Furthermore, the report states that Austin instructed his personal security officer not to inform anyone about the incident.

The OIG report stated that no one on Secretary Austin's staff was aware of the severity of his condition, including when it worsened and he was moved to the Surgical Intensive Care Unit on January 2.

On January 3, 2024, Kelly Magsamen, Austin's chief of staff, texted the secretary's junior military assistant while the secretary was in the hospital. In her message, Magsamen encouraged the secretary to be more open about his health status.

"I wish Secretary Austin were an ordinary individual, but he is the Secretary of Defense. We have a significant institutional responsibility. He cannot simply disappear from his staff. ... Please convey to him that we cannot conceal his hospitalization indefinitely. It is a significant matter that he is in the SICU. And I am extremely anxious," Magsamen wrote, as per the OIG report.

On Feb. 11, 2024, when Austin was hospitalized, his authorities were not transferred until several hours later. The OIG noted that given the seriousness of his condition, Austin’s authorities should have been transferred hours earlier than ultimately occurred.

The OIG recommended 20 improvements to the DOD's processes and advised the department to act on them promptly.

While the DoD has made progress in addressing these concerns, further enhancements are necessary to maintain readiness, transparency, and mission fulfillment. These changes are not only essential for administrative purposes but also for operational and national security reasons.

In conclusion, the report revealed that the Department of Defense did not have a "thorough" plan for managing responsibilities in the event of the secretary's absence.

A senior defense official admitted after the report's release that Austin made a mistake, stating that there was no scandal and no cover-up. The official also emphasized that at every moment, either the Secretary of Defense or the Deputy Secretary of Defense was fully prepared to support the president.

In a February 2024 press conference, Austin publicly acknowledged the shortcomings of his office after hospitalizations were made public.

""I should have informed the president about my cancer diagnosis and also told my team and the American public. I take full responsibility for my actions and apologize to my teammates and the American people," Austin said at the time regarding his previous hospitalization."

Liz Friden contributed to this report.