that Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin# is suffering from prostate canc Austin's doctors say it was detected early,# and his prognosis is -- quote -- "excellent.
"## But there remains a chorus of criticism# about why Austin withheld his diagnosis## and much of his treatment for so long# from the public and the president.
Nick Schifrin has been following this story.
Nick, let's start with the secretary's# doing?
And why are we just learning# about this cancer diagnosis now?
NICK SCHIFRIN: So, on your first question,# Austin's doctors say they expect a full recovery although they also said -- quote# -- "This can be a slow process."
But there is no real answer to the second# question, and that is why all of this criticism that you just# referenced.
And to understand that,## let's go through the timeline# again, as we did last night.
In early December -- that's one month# ago -- Austin learned he had ca ncer.
On December 22, he underwent a# prostatectomy, the removal of part or## all of the prostate under general anesthesia,# and transferred his authorities to his deputy.
On January 1, he was admitted to the ICU# at Walter Reed with what his doctors would## diagnose as a urinary tract infection# and fluid in his abdomen.
On January 2,## he again transferred his authorities to his# deputy, but didn't say why.
And on January 4,## he informed the National Security Council# and his deputy about the hospitalization.
And, finally, January 5, he makes his# first public statement, and at no point## during that entire process, Amna, did he say# or admit that he had prostate cancer.
Take a listen to the spokespeople today of the Defense# Department and the National Security Council,## Major General Pat Ryder and John Kirby,# admitting how in the dark they have been.
MAJ. GEN. PATRICK RYDER, Pentagon# Press Secretary: As soon as we had## this i it.
We got it this afternoon and provided it# literally minutes before I JOHN KIRBY, NSC Coordinator For# Strategic Communications: Nobody## morning.
And the president was informed# immediately after we were informed.
NICK SCHIFRIN: The Pentagon has cited the# fact that Austin -- that Austin's chief## of staff had the flu for the reason why# some of the delay, but t an explanation for why Austin did not admit# he had cancer at any point in the last month.
AMNA NAWAZ: We're so glad he# has an excellent prognosis.
NICK SCHIFRIN: Yes.
there seems to beg a lot more questions.
What's been the response among lawmak NICK SCHIFRIN: Very, very House Armed Services Chairman Republican Mike# Rogers today launched a formal inquiry.
He accused## Austin of -- quote -- "concealing" the fact that# he was incapacitated.
Today, the top Senate Armed## Services Republican, Roger Wicker, accused Austin# of a -- quote -- "clear violation of the law."
Even Democratic Chairman of the# Senate Armed Services Committee## Jack Reed today called for transparency and# accountability from AMNA NAWAZ: So, bipartisan criticism there.
What's the administration sa NICK SCHIFRIN: The administration is releasing# of the concerns.
The White House released a memo# obtained by "PBS NewsHour" by the chief of staff## laying out requirements for any Cabinet secretary# to inform the chief of staff as -- if he or she,## those Cabinet secretaries, are# unable to perform their duties.
The Pentagon last night issued new# requirements expanding the list pe ople who have to be informed when the# secretary has to transfer his duties## and also requiring the disclosure of the# reason.
Those were not required before.
And## both the White House and the Pentagon are# launching reviews that will last 30 days.
But congressional officials I talked to# today said that that is not enough and## there is still no answer, as we said, for# why the second in the military chain of## command withheld the fact that he had# prostate cancer for the last month.
AMNA NAWAZ: Looks like we will# be following the story ahead.
Nick Schifrin, thanks, as al NICK SCHIFRIN: Thanks ve