House committee seeks answers from Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on hospitalization

Washington — The House Armed Services Committee has asked Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin to testify before lawmakers next month about his decision not to disclose his recent hospitalization to the White House.

Rep. Mike Rogers, the Alabama Republican who chairs the panel, told Austin in a letter Thursday that he is "alarmed" by the secretary's refusal to answer whether he instructed staff not to inform President Biden or others about his hospitalization to treat complications stemming prostate cancer surgery.

Rogers indicated that he and Austin spoke recently about the events surrounding his hospital stay and medical procedures, but said he failed to address a "concerning number of questions."