Republicans have been particularly critical of Austin's alleged violations of federal law, which involve his repeated absences for medical treatment.
According to The Daily Signal, Senator Tommy Tuberville, a Republican from Alabama, has been at the forefront of these criticisms. Tuberville recently lambasted Austin for his repeated breaches of the law, viewing Austin as a symbol of the issues that Hegseth must address.
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Earlier this week, the Department of Defense's inspector general released a report that outlined two occasions when Austin delegated his responsibilities to a subordinate during his absences for cancer-related hospitalizations. The report highlighted Austin's failure to inform Congress of his absences, a breach of the Federal Vacancies Reform Act. This law mandates that the head of an executive agency must notify the Comptroller General of the United States and both houses of Congress "immediately upon the occurrence of [a] vacancy."
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Reacting to the report, Tuberville expressed his concern on social media, describing the findings as "EXTREMELY DISTURBING." He stated, "I just read an extremely disturbing [inspector general] report. In December 2023, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin was hospitalized and failed to follow the law by notifying the White House or Congress." Tuberville further criticized Austin's actions, stating, "It is dangerous and deeply concerning that our secretary of defense left the United States vulnerable when he was completely out of commission twice—and didn’t feel the need to tell his boss either time."
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These criticisms come amidst a renewed wave of scrutiny directed at President Joe Biden's defense secretary during Hegseth's confirmation process. Earlier this month, Tuberville was among a group of Republican senators who signed a letter demanding answers from the Department of Defense regarding Austin's absences. The letter expressed concern about the "apparent breakdown in communications" and called for a briefing from "all relevant Department of Defense officials" on Austin's absences.
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Austin's actions have drawn significant criticism from Republicans who are keen to confirm Hegseth. Senator Jim Banks, a Republican from Indiana, voiced his disapproval of Austin following Hegseth's confirmation hearing. Banks told The Daily Signal, "[Austin’s] been a complete disaster, and we can’t repeat that. Pete’s immediately going to be so much better than what we have today."
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The controversy surrounding Austin's absences and the nomination of Hegseth underscores the political tensions within the Department of Defense. As Republicans rally behind Hegseth, they are also using this opportunity to highlight what they perceive as Austin's shortcomings. The coming weeks will reveal whether these criticisms will have any impact on Hegseth's confirmation process and Austin's future in the department.