The White House has issued new guidelines to ensure that any time a Cabinet head is unable to carry out their duties, the President and his top aides are promptly informed. This comes after the recent revelation that Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin had been secretly hospitalized, causing a delay in notifying President Joe Biden and his team.
White House chief of staff Jeff Zients launched a review of existing notification procedures following Austin's hospitalization and the subsequent failure of the Pentagon to immediately inform the White House. In a memo sent to the rest of the Cabinet, Zients expressed the need for a standardized protocol in the event of a delegation of authority, where secretaries temporarily transfer their responsibilities to a deputy due to medical issues, travel, or other reasons.
The new guidelines outline several instructions for Cabinet agencies to follow. Firstly, agencies must notify the White House Office of Cabinet Affairs and Zients' office when they anticipate a delegation of authority. They must also provide written confirmation when the delegation takes effect and when it ends. Additionally, the interim leader assuming authority must establish contact with their primary counterpart at the White House. The agency is also required to comply with any other legal notifications, such as informing key lawmakers.
Zients acknowledged that existing guidelines varied among agencies due to different laws, regulations, and executive orders. However, he emphasized that this review process ensures that all agencies have a set of standard protocols in place for delegations of authority.
The memo also highlights specific situations where delegation of authority should be considered, such as when a Cabinet official is traveling to areas with limited communication, undergoing hospitalization or a medical procedure requiring general anesthesia, or when they may be unreachable. These guidelines aim to prevent any ambiguity or delay in the transfer of responsibilities.
The need for these new guidelines became apparent after it was revealed that Austin had undergone a prostatectomy to treat prostate cancer on December 22, under general anesthesia at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. Austin did not inform the White House about the procedure but temporarily passed some of his authorities to Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks. However, on January 1, Austin was readmitted to the hospital due to severe pain, and once again, some authorities were transferred to Hicks, who was vacationing in Puerto Rico. In both instances, Hicks was not informed of the reasons behind the delegations of authority.
The Pentagon only notified the White House of Austin's hospitalization on January 4, after which national security adviser Jake Sullivan informed President Biden. This incident highlighted the necessity for improved communication and transparency between Cabinet agencies and the White House.
With the implementation of these new guidelines, the White House aims to ensure that any time a Cabinet head cannot fulfill their responsibilities, the President and his team will be promptly informed. By establishing standardized protocols and improving communication, the administration hopes to avoid any future delays or lapses in information dissemination.
