U.S. official: Pentagon waited days to inform W.H. officials of defense secretary’s hospitalization

WEEK, BUT WAS IN THE ICU. ALI RAPA HAS THE LATEST. >> Reporter: TONIGHT, A U.S. OFFICIAL CONFIRMS TO NBC NEWS THAT THE PENTAGON DID NOT INFORM SENIOR OFFICIALS IN THE WHITE HOUSE'S NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL FOR THREE DAYS THAT DEFENSE SECRETARY LLOYD AUSTIN HAD BEEN HOSPITALIZED AT WALTER REED MEDICAL CENTER ON NEW YEAR'S DAY. THE NEWS NOT SHARED WITH THE AMERICAN PUBLIC UNTIL FRIDAY, WHEN THE PENTAGON ANNOUNCED THAT AUSTIN WAS HOSPITALIZED FOR COMPLICATIONS FOLLOWING A RECENT ELECTIVE MEDICAL PROCEDURE. AND NBC NEWS HAS LEARNED THE 70-YEAR-OLD AUSTIN NOT JUST HOSPITALIZED, BUT ALSO IN THE INTENSIVE CARE UNIT FOR AT LEAST FOUR DAYS, ACCORDING TO TWO SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIALS. ASKED WHY HIS STAY WASN'T DISCLOSED SOONER, A PENTAGON SPOKESPERSON ITEMS NBC NEWS, "THIS HAS BEEN AN EVOLVING SITUATION IN WHICH WE HAD TO CONSIDER A NUMBER OF FACTORS," ADDING SECRETARY AUSTIN HAS RESUMED HIS FULL DUTIES. THE PENTAGON DECLINING TO SAY WHAT THE PROCEDURE WAS AND WHAT COMPLICATIONS OCCURRED. THE LACK OF INFORMATION STRONGLY CRITICIZED. >> WHEN PRESIDENTS HAVE ISSUES, WHEN OTHER CABINET MEMBERS HAVE ISSUES, THE PUBLIC IS NOTIFIED. THERE'S NO REAL JUSTIFICATION. IT'S UNACCEPTABLE. >> AMERICA'S COMMITMENT TO ISRAEL IS UNWAVERING. >> Reporter: THE SECRETARY IN ISRAEL AS RECENTLY AS MID-DECEMBER. AS ITS WAR WITH HAMAS RAIDSES TENSION IN THE MIDDLE EAST. ON THURSDAY, THE U.S. CARRIED OUT A STRIKE THAT KILLED AN IRAN-BACKED MILITIA MEMBER IN IRAQ WHILE AUSTIN WAS HOSPITALIZED. >> AND ALI IS IN DELAWARE, TRAVELING WITH THE PRESIDENT. U.S. OFFICIAL JUST MOMENTS AGO TELLS ME THAT PRESIDENT BIDEN WAS NOT INFORMED ABOUT AUSTIN'S HOSPITALIZATION FOR THREE DAYS, EITHER, AND YOU'RE HEARING FROM THE SECRETARY HIMSELF TONIGHT IN A STATEMENT? WHAT IS HE SAYING? >> Reporter: THAT'S RIGHT, PETER. THE THE DEFENSE SECRETARY TAKING FULL RESPONSIBILITY FOR WHAT HE SAYS WERE HIS DECISIONS ABOUT DISCLOSURE, SAYING, IN PART, QUOTE, I RECOGNIZE I COULD HAV

Channel: NBC News

Views: 903,103

Keywords: Health, International News, Lester Holt, Making A Difference, NBC Nightly News, National News, News, Nightly News, U.S. News, breaking news, evening news, politics, world news

Id: Gv9kQTyv6mA

Length: 2min 10sec (130 seconds)

Published: Sun Jan 07 2024