NE Florida News

U.S. Congressman Aaron Bean (FL-04) has introduced the "Cabinet Accountability and Transparency Act," a legislation aimed at ensuring that cabinet officials are held accountable for their absences. The bill requires cabinet officials to inform Congress within 24 hours if they are absent from their job, or if the absence is due to an emergency, the agency must notify Congress as soon as they are aware of the absence.

The need for such legislation was highlighted over the weekend when it was revealed that Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin had been secretly admitted to an intensive care unit for multiple days starting on New Year's Day. During this time, the Department of Defense failed to promptly notify President Biden and the National Security Council about the secretary's incapacitation.

Congressman Bean expressed his disappointment at the Department of Defense's lack of transparency, stating, "The Department of Defense's failure to notify President Biden, the National Security Council, and the American people that Defense Secretary Austin was hospitalized and unable to perform his duties is totally unacceptable." He emphasized the importance of transparency in a time of global conflict and the need for real leadership for the troops.

Congressman Tony Gonzales, a cosponsor of the bill, also criticized the handling of Secretary Austin's situation, stating, "The way this situation was handled was completely unacceptable. The President of the United States should have been in the loop from the beginning on Secretary Austin's condition." He highlighted his own military background and the importance of military leadership being readily available.

Congresswoman Harriet Hageman, another cosponsor of the bill, expressed her concerns about the lack of communication between the Secretary of Defense and the President. She stated, "It is unconscionable that the Secretary of Defense would not notify the President of his impending surgery at any time it were to occur, let alone when the Biden administration has seen so much of the world blow up on its watch." She emphasized the need for Congress to provide oversight and ensure that such incidents do not happen again.

Congressman Max Miller, in his statement, criticized both Secretary Austin's judgment and the Biden administration's protocols. He said, "Failing to communicate with the White House and important elements of our national security apparatus demonstrates not only poor judgment by Secretary Austin but also a breakdown of the Biden administration's protocols." He stressed the importance of Congress stepping in to protect national security.

Congresswoman Anna Paulina Luna highlighted the growing national crises and global tensions that the United States faces and expressed her support for the bill. She stated, "There is absolutely no excuse for our Secretary of Defense to be missing in action because he and the agency deliberately left Congress and the American people out of the loop." She emphasized the need for accountability for those in appointed political positions.

Congressman Andy Ogles echoed the sentiments of his colleagues and stressed the importance of accountability. He said, "It is beyond unacceptable that Secretary Austin's condition was kept a secret from critical leadership, including Congress and the Commander-in-Chief." He praised Congressman Bean's swift action in introducing the bill to prevent such lapses in communication in the future.

The "Cabinet Accountability and Transparency Act" aims to address the lack of communication and ensure that incidents like this do not happen again. It has garnered support from several cosponsors, including Representatives Tony Gonzales, Harriet Hageman, Max Miller, Anna Paulina Luna, and Andy Ogles.

The full text of Congressman Bean's bill can be found on his website. The Daily Caller has also provided exclusive coverage of the bill.

With the introduction of this legislation, Congressman Bean and his colleagues are seeking to promote transparency and accountability within the cabinet. By requiring timely notification of absences, they aim to ensure that the American people and Congress remain informed about the availability of cabinet officials in crucial decision-making processes.