Congressional Black Caucus Supports Defense Secretary Despite Calls For Resignation

The cohort of Black lawmakers deemed these calls for Austin's resignation as "rushed judgements" on his capacity to fulfill his duties.

The Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) is lending its support for Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin III, who has been urged to resign after failing to notify the White House and senior-level government officials of his hospitalization.

The Jan. 11 statement from the cohort of Black lawmakers deemed these calls for resignation hasty.

“The CBC fully supports Secretary Austin remaining in his role, and we strongly push back against efforts to politicize a deeply personal and private health diagnosis,” said CBC Chairman Rep. Steven Horsford (D-NV). “We can all certainly provide some level of privacy in the initial aftermath of a cancer diagnosis, and we encourage others towards decency in this moment…Calls for Secretary Austin to resign or face impeachment proceedings are rushed judgments.”

The statement noted how prostate cancer disproportionately impacts Black men, wishing Austin a “full and speedy recovery” as he deals with the systemic health problem,

According to TheGrio, Austin underwent surgery on Dec. 22 and returned to Reed National Military Medical Center Jan 1. due to complications. After lawmakers were made aware of his serious hospital stay on Jan. 4, some, including Rep. Chris Deluzio (D-PA), urged Austin to step down for his negligence in informing the proper individuals.

I have lost trust in Secretary Lloyd Austin’s leadership of the Defense Department due to the lack of transparency about his recent medical treatment and its impact on the continuity of the chain of command.
— Congressman Chris Deluzio (@RepDeluzio) January 10, 2024

However, other lawmakers, including Rep. Glenn Ivey (D-MD), and the CBC, have implored their fellow politicians not to lean into pushing Austin out over such a sensitive matter.

“A higher standard does exist for public officials, for which Secretary Austin and the DoD have stated that the Secretary’s hospitalization could have been communicated sooner,” Horsford said in a statement.