Mike Waltz: Defense Secretary Austin should be ‘relieved’ for week-long disappearance

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Reacting to the revelation of U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin being hospitalized for a short period of time without initial notice, Florida Republican Rep. Mike Waltz said any other commanding officer would have been “relieved.”

“I wish Secretary Austin the best on his recovery,” Waltz said.

“Any commanding officer in the military would have been relieved for disappearing for a week, not delegating to their deputy, and breaking the chain of command,” he said.

According to a statement obtained by CNN, Austin was admitted into Walter Reed National Military Medical Center for “minimally invasive surgery” for prostate cancer late in December.

Then, on Jan. 1, Austin was admitted to the same hospital with complications from that procedure, such as “nausea with severe abdominal, hip, and leg pain.” He then was sent to the ICU on Jan. 2.

The statement said that Austin “never lost consciousness” or underwent general anesthesia.

Rep. Cory Mills, R-Fla., similarly condemned the situation regarding lack of communication.

“He chose to NOT notify Biden, NSA Sullivan, and intentionally keep this secret,” Mills said. “Even Deputy SecDef, Hicks, was unaware of having assumed roles.”

“This is a huge national security concern given increase military threats, attacks on troops abroad, and further evidence to support my impeachment articles filed for his continual dereliction of duty,” he said.

Mills said he has called for an investigation.