Senator Collins’ Statement on Department of Defense Lack of Transparency

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Susan Collins, Vice Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee and Subcommittee on Defense, released the following statement in response to press reports suggesting that the Department of Defense withheld information regarding Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin’s health:

“Secretary of Defense Austin apparently has been hospitalized since January 1.  I am concerned about his health and shocked that the Pentagon and White House have not been more forthcoming about his condition or why he remains hospitalized.  It appears that even the President, his national security advisor, and the Deputy Secretary of Defense were unaware of Secretary Austin’s hospitalization for at least three days.  Given the extremely serious military decisions that the United States is dealing with, including attacks on our troops by Iranian-backed proxies, the war in the Middle East, and the ongoing aggression by Russia in Ukraine, it is inexplicable that the Secretary’s condition remains shrouded in secrecy,” said Senator Collins.  “I wish him a speedy recovery, but also believe that he must be forthcoming about the nature of his illness and his ability to do his job.”

###