In a letter sent Wednesday, Republicans on the Senate Armed Services Committee requested a formal explanation from Department of Defense (DOD) officials regarding the circumstances surrounding Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin's unexplained absence.

Mississippi Sen. Roger Wicker, the committee's top Republican, led 11 of his Republican colleagues in condemning Austin for not disclosing that he had been hospitalized from Jan. 1 until late in the afternoon. It called for all relevant Department of Defense officials to hold a briefing by April 19th. .Five, according to In a letter. Wicker said Austin's actions “represent an unacceptable betrayal of trust with the American people at a critical time for our national security.”

“Our branches of government share a sacred obligation to work together to keep the American people safe. We cannot do this without clear and open communication,” Wicker said in the letter. I wrote it inside. (Related article: US shoots down 24 Houthi drones and missiles in largest attack to date)

Military Republicans have asked Pentagon officials about Austin's capabilities during his hospitalization, how the notification process broke down, and how Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks handled Austin's duties while on vacation in Puerto Rico. We asked them to be prepared to provide details on whether they were able to accomplish this.

Austin was taken by ambulance to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center on January 1st, and was hospitalized on January 2nd to deal with severe pain from elective surgery he underwent on December 22nd to treat prostate cancer. He was transferred to the intensive care unit. Congress did not learn of Austin's hospitalization until late on January 5, the day after the president, deputy secretary of defense and top national security officials were notified.

During his hospitalization, the United States conducted deadly retaliatory airstrikes against militant leaders in Baghdad who were responsible for many of the attacks on American forces in Iraq and Syria. Austin and President Joe Biden authorized the strike on Jan. 1, before Austin was hospitalized with complications. according to To the Pentagon.

“At a time when our service members are under attack by Iranian-backed terrorists, our deputy defender goes missing in action. No one alerted Congress – a violation of the law,” the panel said. said Republican Iowa Sen. Joni Ernst, a member of the discussion. Said issued a statement on social media after the letter was sent.

Austin admitted on Saturday that he could have been more upfront about his hospitalization, but he apparently did not disclose at the time that he was first diagnosed with cancer in early December, and that he had undergone surgery on Dec. 22. This appears to have led to subsequent readmission.

.@SASCGOP It requests a complete timeline of events over the past two weeks and answers to more than 15 specific questions.

There must be accountability for the crisis in the Pentagon chain of command. pic.twitter.com/mIZ7I9xGYq

— Senator Roger Wicker (@SenatorWicker) January 10, 2024

Republicans on the House Armed Services Committee launched their own investigation into Austin on Tuesday. Wicker said he did not expect Austin to resign, but he hopes the administration will be more proactive with Congress in the future. according to Go to Fox Business. “I think we can get through this… but I hope everyone has learned a lesson here,” he told FOX Business. But Mr. Wicker suggested in his letter that Mr. Austin may have violated the law by not notifying Mr. Hicks or the White House.

“Either Secretary Hicks failed to implement the statute, or someone at the Department of Defense withheld information from her that would have enabled her to implement the statute. This disregard for clear legal requirements is unacceptable.” says the letter.

The Pentagon told the Daily Caller News Foundation that it would respond directly to lawmakers, similar to the process for letters from Congress.