Pentagon inspector general to investigate mishandling of Austin's hospitalization

The Defense Department inspector general said Thursday that it will investigate the mishandling of Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin's recent secretive hospitalization.

In a memo, the inspector general said it will examine "the roles, processes, procedures, responsibilities, and actions related to the Secretary of Defense's hospitalization." Additionally, it said it will "assess whether the DoD's policies and procedures are sufficient to ensure timely and appropriate notifications and the effective transition of authorities as may be warranted due to health-based or other unavailability of senior leadership."

The Pentagon has come under fire for not being more transparent about information regarding Austin's hospitalization and a communication lapse that left top Pentagon officials and the White House unaware of his condition for days.

The Pentagon inspector general said its investigation could expand in scope as it proceeds and that it "may identify additional offices and personnel who might have information relevant to our review," the memo says.

Austin's secretive hospitalization, revealed to be for complications resulting from prostate cancer treatment, and the botched notification process that followed has come under scrutiny with one member of Congress calling for his resignation and others demanding that Pentagon officials provide answers about who knew what and when.

This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.