Is the hearing will come to order. We wish you a full and speedy recovery. We understand that you are recovering and sitting for to long, and sitting is not good reed to your request to limit your appearance today to two hours. To get to possible, unanimous consent to reduce comment to four minutes. So ordered. If we cannot get to you today, please submits your questions for the record and the secretary has sured us that hell get answthat in a timely fashion. The secretary will be in about a month so youll have another opportunity to at that reason that weve asked you here today is not to discuss your health. Year here to determine why the president was not immediately informed of your incapacitation. The timeline as we understood it ison the evening of january 1st, secretary austin was transported to the hospital via ambulance for complications from a surgical procedure he had on december 22nd. On the afternoon of january 2nd, the seconds authorities 7k were transferred to deputy secretary hicks without her being informed as to why. On january 4th, three days of hospital, deputy hick and e president were informed that secretary austin hospital. January 5th, congress is informed of the secretarys hospitalization. It is totally unacceptable it took three days to inform the president of the United States that the secretary was not in the hospital and not in pentagon. Wars are and israel, our ships were under fire in the red sea and our bases were abracing for attacks in syria and iraq. But the president did not knfense was out of action. The deputy secretary, the person to whom your power was transferred did not know that you were in the hospital. Our forces conducted a preauthorized strike on iran ckedething wave bon would have happened, the president would have had to try to find the secretary of de the work does not know when the commander in chief does not know who to call. We want to know who made the decision top with holdthe information from the president . Althpublicly stated you are solely responsible, you also informed this committee it wasnt you who decided to with hold the information from the president. We were led to believe that your 30internal review would on that matter. But it includes no explanation of and his staff were left in the dark. 5i it makes no recommendations to improve communications house. Unsurprisingly it holds nobody accountable. We appreciate your desire to protect your subordinates. But it is important in democracy that Public Officials are held accountable when mistakes aremade. This administrations that gone lengths to avoid have matter of National Security. And someone needs to it be held accounted. I find is concerning that the etary could be hospitalized in three days without anyone the administration noticing that suggested that secretary austins advice is not sought or heated in the white housry operations were ongoing in the middle east. It implies the white house palestinians, not seon professionals are in the drivers cease on matter of National Security. That is disturbing. Findly beyond the immediate need, congress has a right to know of secretary absence or transfer of authority. None of this had not come to the attention if the white house would no interest come clean. Our goal is to understand how and why this happened so we can ensure it never happens again. With that i yield to friend and colleague the Ranking Member. Hell be here for the full Posture Hearing that will go on considerably longer than two hours. That i do appreciate from the department of defense. This is an opportunity to address an important issue. I agree with much of what the chairman said. I think that the transparency what was going on and certainly with the white house, ss and others, should not be repeated. T information what is going on at the pentagon. I want to disagree with one thing the chairman said during the time period that the commander and chief didnt know who to call. He did. The transfer of made. It was made to the deputy had anything had come up, that the way the system works. When the secretary of fecompetition for any reason, the deputy secretary assumes the responsibilities and roles. That was made clear throughout the pentagon and the white house. The reason behind it was not. And that is why the lack of transparency is problematic. We need to understand the importance of the role of the secretary of defense and responding directly to the commander and chief. The commander and chief should have all the broad range is going on with the pentagon. Again, in the sense tion who was in charge at that time, the transfer was done appropriately. I think it is appropriate that we have this hearing discussion, that we hear directly from the secretary. I thank the secretary willing to be here and take the that through the lex threat environment. That is one thing that the committee absolutely everybody agrees few to. Ther his their that we face the challenges that we face right now, the war in ukraine, the war in middle east, the challenges that china continues to present and north korea as well. Throughout the whole time, there is no allegation that the department of defense was not on top of the situations. There was no instance that they were not doing their job the up most of their ability and this country. And the coalition of secretary austin has been put together to stop putin in ukraine has been effective. And that is a testimony to secretary austins leadership and the way the department of defense has been run on a day in and day out basis. I would be remiss if i did not point out that 2 would be helpful that the United States house of representatives would allow a vote on the ch aid for ukraine and the middle east and to the appropriations bill that the department of defense could desperately use to carry out that job. There is no doubt that that has been built is successful. Two years ago when the war started, everyone assumed that ukraine would be done in a month. Two years later, thre and sovereign because of the bravery of the ukrainian people ition came to help protleft. In the middle east, we have stopped the war from spreading. They are proving to to be a much larger challenge. We have built a coalit start that challenge. If we look at what happened while the secretary was in the lack of transparency needs to be improved, lets not lose track of what it is doing rithe secretary challenges that we face. With d back. Mr. Secretary, you are recognized for any Opening Statements that you may have. In the. Im grateful for the in the for the continued support for the and our outstanding troops. The u. S. Military is the most powerful fighting force in human history. With your help, well keep it that deeply focused on meeting the pacing challenge from the peoples republic of china on making the middle east secure after the october 7th terrorist assault on israel and enshushing that ukraine continue to defend itself. So were focused on the dens but i know that congress has issues around my illness. So let me start by thanking all those that offered my es after my recent Cancer Treatment and hospital very much appreciate your kind words and i received world class medical care at walter reed. I want to thank my doctors outstanding nursing staff. They expect me to be completely cured of my Prostate Cancer that was caught early. I continue to recover. And now i one to be very clear. There was never any lapse in authority or command and control. At all times i or the deputy secretary was in a position to conduct the duties of my office. We did have a breakdown in notifications concerning my january stay at walter reed. That is sharing my location and december, i should have promptly informed the president and the American People of cancer diagnosis and treatment. We did not handle this right and i did not handle it right. I have apologized, even directly to the president. Taking changes to make sure it does not happen again. The system must be postured better it make the appropriate informations and my staff must be ready to carryall of this out. Let me be clear. I never intended to keep my hospitalization from the house or from anybody else. That is why changes to the way that the authorities can be a way that the notifications get made. It is why we conducted a 30day review of the entire process. Because the review deals with the continuity of violations. They wrote it as classifi but we share the review with all of the third day review made eight recommendations to me and i that all eight be implemented. We put two in place alreadquick will be the other six. Let me summarize them. We made clear that we expect full information sharing with the deputy or another designated official assumes of functions and duties as acting secret elines for clear information sharing between my staff and the deputy secretarys staff if the scenarios arrive. Ment officials in the order of succession are supported for the relevant processes. Were moving quickly to develop a mandatory reporting me or the deputy y. Of course, we already have cont in place and well continue top review those plan as appropriate. Even before the 30day review, wehad made some changes in. In the future of de secretary would assume the deputies of my office, she and several White House Offices will be closed, including its white house situation room and the white house chief of staff. Key ficials across the department will also be notify it had, includinthe joint chiefs and the general council. It will be incl writing. You saw the new procedures in action during an hospitalization during this month. The dod Inspector General is still working on his independent review that we fully support. Now, befo questions, i want to make one thing very clear. At no time during my treatment or recovery were there any gaps in authority and no ridge of to the command and control. I fu in the National Security decision makes onmiddle east and military operations in selfdefense to protect our troops and our facilities over there. Again, were moving swiftly put some helpful new procedures in place to fication. I am confident that well not experience the same issues nor ed and will more so in the future. Thank you for your testimony and thanfor putting that in place. When will the committee stand up for the defense of this nation . When will my colleagues on the republ committee find the courage to get that job done . Five months have p thethe duty is on us. Secretary, 17 seconds. If you would like to comment on the necessity of getting the so. The time has expired. We recognize the gentleman from virginia. We wish you continued recovery from your surgery. I would like to go through a series of questions with your reflection and yes or is Standard Operating Procedure for your security detail to notify the National Command center . To my knowledge, my security detail does not notify the National Military command so it is not Standard Operating Procedure for your security detail to notify the National Command center . Thats right. If it is not standard operating prearlier that you have mechanisms built in to transfer power takes place from you to the deputy second, then how did your security detail close the loop in ing information to the right place . And how is the decision sat the deputy secretary was then in charge . Decision is really about if weve reached a point where dont have the ability to continue to perform my dutiof access to secure communications for a period of time. And that triggers the process that is established being ed. That happened pretty quickly. I think they made the right decision. If it is not Standard Operating Procedure for your security detail to notify the National Command center which is the nexus for how information gets to the right place, so when issues much National Security comes up, the white house is informed, because it is the National Command center that is in charge of notifying white house. Nobody in your office or staff notified the white house, how it that people in making positions know when operational deficits take place like you being in the intensive care unit that day and not being able to continue with your duties . By law, if i dont have the ability to execute my duties for any reason, in this case because of lack of access so secure communications. By law, the deputy assumes the the responsible. I understand tht the law doesnt and surethere is continuity in operations and people in Critical Situations so they know that things can place in realtime. The deputy secretary was in co. She may have been notified of a transfer of responsibility. She stayed there. It is a matter of if some would happen, the white house did not know. People in positions that would need to make decisions in case of and were glad that something didnt happen, but in case of, if information is not transferred, there is an issue of National Security. Stated. There was never a lapse in command and control. Again, when the transfer 7zis made, a message goes out to all the stakeholders that transfer has been made. So the Communications Specialists are positioned to route any Incoming Communications to the deputy that would have come to me. Is it correct that the president known that the National Military command center should loop should have been closed to make sure that everybody knew the standard procedure should be that your securie National Command center . The joint staff did know on the second uo cof january. The gentlemans time has expired. We recognize gentleman from new jersey. Thank you, chairman. We appreciate you and the second, we wish you wellwishes in your recovery. You stated it should have been handled better. That is clear. The 30day review has been concluded. And there was a number of recommendations that you implement and you went further to talk about the Inspector General is there should be a should not be is a political bickering. The idea of command and control of our military and the defense of this nation is of the highiority to the men and women that serve here in congress, those that wear the uniform and to every american cares about that. I want to make sure thatwe fully understand. Apparently, there is some doubt have been a break in. Command and control of our forces. Would you clearly state for if the record was there ever at any time a break in the comm and control . There was never a lapse in or command because we understand if there is a gap, if something were to happen to or those below you, there is an immediate way of addressing that. And to go one yond that, it comes to the command and control, here we are. If this were to happen in a situation of somebody that you have control that you didnt know. How would you tuation . I would be concerned about the subordinates position and welfare and i would try to gain some understanding of what happened and make sure that we you measures in place to dont happen. And that is exactly what we did here. What the president was foremost focused on is my welfare. And then ensuring that we had the right measures in place to streamline communications and to make sure that we were able to respond anything in the future. So as youre revealing this as we should, are there any other items that were recommended to or Lessons Learned that you could with us . Were a learning organiza encounter in the future or we consider in the future that need to be adjusted or changed. As welldo some things to ensure that notification occurred in a very timely fashion. But it we learn more things by going ard, well adjust as needed. I wish you a speedy recovery. I want 22nd date. That is the one that i have the he other one was an emergency predure where you were taken by ambulance, am i correct . The january was an emergency . January event was an emergency. I took an to the hospital. Thats mber 22nd date, when did you know that you were going on december 22nd . I scheduled that surgery about a week prior to the surgery. In order to do made sure that we transferred authorities to the day. I resumed my duties the following day. So you took leave, but you knew you were going to take leave a week before the 22nd, correct . Thats correct. When you scheduled th surgery for the 22nd. But she was not notified till the day of the procedure, is that correct . This was coordinated several days before. I dont know the date when she was notified. According to what we have appears that she was not notified she was basically transferred the authority but was not given the reason for the authority. I guess the i think i have hardest time with is not the emergency procedure, but it is knowing a week in advance that youre anesthesia out for 48 hours. And she have not notified at that time that she needed to be prepared to recee the authority at that stage, my understanding is she was in puerto rico and not until the at that time, is that correct . That is correct. The 22nd she was in the state. S. When we know that you as the when weknow that youre not going to be capable of making the decisions, the sooner the person that person be in in the position what and why, the better we are country are from making sure things have or happen the way they should . I respect you and wish you a speedy recovery. That is my primary concern. The emergency procedure, i think the lessons are learned the hard way. I want to say this with me of the comments about republicans and who we want to win in ukraine. Let me assure you that we want the ukrainians tin to lose. But one of the key things that of us have asked for that voted for the ukrainians repeatedly is being enforcement of the sanctions against russia. And simply sending them weapons and moy is not going to win the war against the sanctions have to be enforced. That is something that i have persly package that is coming to the floor and something that those of us that knows issues is more than just money and weapons for to win the war. We wish you best and we keep you in our prayers. For joining us today. I would to thank you for inj