Secretary Lloyd Austin’s only option now is resignation

(Photo credit: Department of Defense Lisa Ferdinando. March 21, 2021. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin III speaks to the press at Resolute Support Headquarters, Kabul Afghanistan).

Several days have passed since the nation was alarmed to learn Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, 70, had undergone surgery and had to later be admitted to Walter Reed National Medical Center when complications arose.   

The other alarming part was that he had not informed President Joe Biden (and apparently much of his staff) of his diagnosis, surgery or that he had been admitted to the hospital --- for days.

After taking a time to evaluate whether this mistake was as significant as it first appeared, reflection shows that it is worse than first thought.

Austin breached a significant and time-tested tenet of military readiness and function by not keeping his boss, President Biden, informed of his location and why he was hospitalized (he remains at Walter Reed at this writing).

He did not inform President Biden of the reason for his hospitalization until the same day the world learned that it was due to prostate cancer.

Keeping the boss informed is not a difficult task and in the military at every level it is an expectation of the newest private to the highest-ranking four-star leader. No exceptions. (For those who do not know, Austin is a retired four-star Army general).

The need to communicate is more acute at the cabinet level.

From my service as assistant secretary at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, during the Trump administration, it was clear that our secretary had to communicate his activities with the White House.

Then-Secretary Robert Wilkie had surgery that required him to be administered anesthetic. He was required to inform the Cabinet Secretary and provide the White House Chief of Staff a clear delegation of authority. The Cabinet Secretary also maintained positive knowledge of the whereabouts of all cabinet members daily.

While it is fair to say that any cabinet post is a critical position, it is especially so at the Department of Defense.

Only two civilians are in the U.S. military chain of command: the president and the secretary of defense. 

They are charged with potentially making major decisions on military actions within minutes. While it is accurate to say that the president can make any decision alone, the first person he calls upon when deciding is the secretary.

Not the director of the Security Council. Not the chairman of the joint chiefs of staff. Not even the vice-president.

World events necessitate full and focused attention. 

The judgment lapse has many effects: 1. The immediate concern of potentially not being able to execute vital defensive actions. 2. The impact on troops and commanders at all levels. 3. The loss of confidence of the public and members of Congress.

An Army captain in a post such company commander, in charge of less than 200 Soldiers, would almost undoubtedly be relieved of command and have his career ended for being what military personnel would say is “out of the net” for several days. 

Veterans are alarmed. It’s hard to refute brutal truths about this situation even while holding some admiration for Austin’s service.  

Retired Army Colonel and Ph.D. Rich Outzen made strong arguments that reflect those of many I know in the veteran community.

“First”, he wrote in a text, “the secretary of defense is no ‘normal’ cabinet position. It is half of the National Command Authority, and any absence or incapacity has wide-ranging ripple effects.”

“Second…(it) is deeply embarrassing to the presidency and represents a security decision-making risk for part of the National Command Authority to lose track of another,” Outzen continued.

“Third, there is a ‘downward’ obligation to staff, subordinate commanders, and the armed forces overall for SECDEF to be ready and on the job while they are in harm’s way,” wrote Outzen.

Outzen also echoes much of what I have heard from veterans.

“These failures are serious and worrisome. He deserves the time to recuperate fully and to ensure that appropriate lessons and standards are reinforced rather than undermined by this incident. Resignation would serve both purposes.”

It is clear that pressure will mount for Austin to resign (Biden has vowed not to fire him).

Democrats in Congress and news organizations that are completely in Biden’s camp are seeing this episode for what it is.

Democrat Seth Moulton, a Massachusetts congressman and military veteran, made clear what he would do if the decision was his to make.

“I would fire him in about five minutes,” Moulton said speaking to the Washington D.C. publication, The Hill.

A New York Times opinion writer, (the Times publication that is firmly in Biden’s camp), points out it is unacceptable. 

Times reporter David French correctly assesses this incident as a situation that requires Austin to own up to his poor decision and leave office.

A “resignation would be an act of public service, a demonstration of the way in which people of character own their mistakes,” writes French.

Finally, Biden himself acknowledged a problem. (And remember that he does not even acknowledge there is a crisis at the U.S. border with Mexico).

Biden answered, “yes” when asked whether Austin showed a lack of judgment in not informing him of his condition and whereabouts for several days.

Finally, the Department of Defense Inspector General is investigating the matter. While this will not result in a quick body-blow, it will take a lot of time amid endless speculation of its contents, and the result, however muted, will not be favorable.

An IG investigation is not going to be something the administration will want to put up with in an election year. 

Resignation is the right and honorable thing for Austin to do now. I suspect he knows that fact.

James Hutton is a former assistant secretary at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and is a retired colonel in the U.S. Army. Follow him on X @jehutton.