Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and his deputy violated protocol by keeping his emergency hospitalization last year a secret from congressional officials, the Pentagon’s internal watchdog found in a report released Wednesday.

Austin was hospitalized for 15 days starting on Jan. 1, 2024, after having “severe pain” shortly after having surgery for prostate cancer. The White House was not notified of his incapacitation until Jan. 4, while Congress and the public did not learn until Jan. 5.

According to the Pentagon Inspector General’s report on Austin’s conduct during his hospitalization and the events surrounding the incident, Austin and Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen Hicks were required to “immediately notify” congressional officials when Austin was incapacitated and Hicks was serving as acting Secretary of Defense, despite her being on vacation at the time of Austin’s hospitalization and was not immediately notified herself.

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