Duval Times

In a letter addressed to Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, Senators Rick Scott and Roger Wicker, along with 10 other members of the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC), are demanding accountability for the breakdown in communications within the Department of Defense (DoD) during Secretary Austin's recent incapacitation. The senators expressed their concern that the actions taken by the secretary are in violation of the law and pose a threat to the continuity of government and national security.

The letter, signed by Senators Deb Fischer, Tom Cotton, Mike Rounds, Joni Ernst, Dan Sullivan, Kevin Cramer, Tommy Tuberville, Ted Budd, Markwayne Mullin, and Eric Schmitt, calls for an immediate update on the timeline of events following the secretary's illness. The senators also requested answers to more than 15 specific questions, including the nature of the secretary's incapacitation, the exact time he became incapacitated, and who was notified at that time.

The senators are particularly troubled by the department's failure to inform the President, Congress, and the Comptroller General of the United States of the secretary's incapacitation, which they argue contravenes the requirements of the Federal Vacancies Reform Act of 1998. They also raised concerns about the department's failure to notify the secretary's lawful successor and questioned the role played by department staff in delaying the transmission of critical information.

In their letter, the senators emphasized the importance of clear and open communication between branches of government for the sake of national security. They criticized the secretary's statement on January 6th as insufficient and called for immediate clarification from the DoD on how it interpreted laws and regulations regarding the performance of duties and responsibilities of the Secretary of Defense during a vacancy.

The senators are seeking answers to a range of questions, including when the secretary underwent a medical procedure, the exact timeline of his hospitalization, and who was aware of his incapacitation prior to the deputy secretary being fully informed. They also want to know if the Biden administration considers the Federal Vacancies Reform Act to apply in this case and why the notification process outlined in the act was not followed.

The letter also demands information on when various officials, including the President, the National Security Adviser, and combatant commanders, were notified of the secretary's incapacitation and the assumption of authority by the deputy secretary. The senators also raised concerns about the transfer of authority in the nuclear enterprise and whether the deputy secretary had access to the necessary communications capabilities during this time.

Furthermore, the senators called for clarification on whether this is the only instance in which the deputy secretary of defense has assumed the authorities of the secretary during this administration.

In conclusion, the senators emphasized the need for answers to rebuild trust with Congress and the American people. They called on all relevant DoD officials to be prepared to brief Congress by January 19th with responses to their questions.

The full letter can be found [here](insert link to the letter).

Sincerely,

[Signatories]

For additional details, please follow this link: https://www.rickscott.senate.gov/2024/1/sens-rick-scott-roger-wicker-lead-sasc-republicans-in-demanding-accountability-for-department-of-defense-chain-of-command-crisis