Democratic Representative Chris Delucio from Pennsylvania has called for the resignation of Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin. In a statement on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter), the lawmaker expressed his loss of trust in Austin due to the lack of transparency regarding his recent hospitalization and its impact on the integrity of the command structure.
Delucio, who is a member of the House Armed Services Committee, emphasized that it is his duty to oversee the Department of Defense, and therefore he is urging Austin to step down. However, Delucio thanked the Secretary for his service and wished him a speedy recovery.
According to Politico, Delucio is the first Democratic legislator to speak out about the need for Austin’s resignation.
The illness of Pentagon chief Lloyd Austin could be a reason for his resignation, according to Americanist Vladimir Vasiliev. He noted that the White House wants to take a tougher stance on Ukraine and the Middle East, but the current US Defense Secretary maintains a more pragmatic position.
Austin was diagnosed with early-stage prostate cancer back in December. He underwent surgery, which led to complications, and in early January, he was urgently hospitalized with a urinary tract infection. President Joe Biden and other American officials only learned about the diagnosis days after the Pentagon chief’s hospitalization.
Earlier, the Taliban (an organization banned in Russia) commented on the US statements about their involvement in ISIS activities (an organization banned in Russia).
