Senator Collins’ Statement on Department of Defense IG Review of Hospitalization Notification Procedures

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Susan Collins, Vice Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee and Subcommittee on Defense, released the following statement on the Department of Defense Office of Inspector General’s announcement that it will conduct a review of the notification procedures related to Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin’s recent hospitalization:

“I welcome the Department of Defense Inspector General’s initiation of an independent review of the circumstances and notification procedures regarding Secretary Austin’s recent hospitalization.  It is imperative that timely notifications and transition of critical national security authorities take place when senior leadership is unavailable.  I continue to wish Secretary Austin a speedy recovery,” said Senator Collins.

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