Rep. Deluzio Becomes First Democrat In Congress To Call For Lloyd Austin To Resign

Topline Rep. Chris Deluzio (D Pa.) called for the resignation of Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin Wednesday afternoon—joining a number of Republicans and becoming the first Democrat on the Hill to call for his resignation after Austin was hospitalized for days without the White House knowing. Deluzio said he has “lost trust in Secretary Lloyd Austin’s leadership of the Defense Department” ...

[+] after he was hospitalized for days without top officials being informed. (Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images) Key Facts In a statement issued Wednesday, Deluzio said he has “lost trust in Secretary Lloyd Austin’s leadership of the Defense Department due to the lack of transparency about his recent medical treatment and its impact on the continuity of the chain of command.” Deluzio serves on the House Armed Services Committee, a role that he said requires him to call on Austin to resign.

After news of Austin’s hospitalization broke, a number of Republicans, including former President Donald Trump and Sen. Elise Stefanik (R NY), said Austin should resign or be removed—though a number of big name Republicans stopped short of calling for resignation. Contra The White House said earlier this week President Joe Biden is not planning to fire Austin over his failure to disclose his hospitalization, Reuters reported .

Biden said he has “complete confidence” in Austin, and National Security spokesperson John Kirby said Monday “the president's number one focus is on the secretary's recovery,” Axios reported . What To Watch For Whether other Democrats join Deluzio and call for Austin’s resignation.

Tangent Though top Republicans are not joining in calls for Austin’s resignation, the GOP led House Armed Services Committee launched a formal inquiry into Austin on Tuesday over the incident. The chairman of the committee, Rep. Mike Rogers (R Ala.), said in a statement Tuesday that the Pentagon “is not designed for a Secretary who conceals being incapacitated” and, in a separate letter, called it “mindboggling” that Biden was “not aware of the location or operational competence of the Secretary of Defense.” Key Background Austin had surgery to treat his prostate cancer in late December, but the surgery had complications that sent him back to the hospital on Jan.

1, according to a statement from Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. He was put in intensive care the following day and had a procedure to drain fluid that had gathered in his stomach. He reportedly resumed his duties on Jan. 5, and hospital officials said on Tuesday that Austin’s health has progressed and he is expected to make a full recovery.

Austin drew criticism around the scenario though, as the White House and Pentagon didn’t know for three days that he had been admitted to the hospital. There is no formal procedure around how Cabinet members should report absences, the Associated Press reported , but unnamed officials said there is the general expectation that the White House would be informed.

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