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Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Alabama, who has repeatedly clashed with the Pentagon over various policies, is now blocking the promotion of Lt. Gen. Ronald P. Clark, a top aide to Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, over what Tuberville describes as “concerns” regarding Clark’s actions during Austin’s January hospitalization.
However, an unclassified document debunks Tuberville’s claims, revealing a different story.
Tuberville’s office has asserted that Clark failed to inform President Joe Biden of Austin’s incapacitation while he was admitted to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center and later placed in intensive care due to complications from prostate surgery.
“Sen. Tuberville has concerns about Lt. Gen. Clark’s actions during Secretary Austin’s hospitalization. Lt. Gen. Clark knew that Sec. Austin was incapacitated and did not tell the Commander in Chief,” said Mallory Jaspers, a spokesperson for Tuberville, according to a report by The Hill.
Tuberville has omitted key information regarding Clark’s responsibilities and duties, which dictated his handling of the situation. Clark is required to remain apolitical and has no lines of communication with the political side of the secretary of defense’s office. His role as assistant to the secretary of defense is to ensure that the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff is kept informed about military matters.
According to the Department of Defense’s “Unclassified Summary Of 30-Day Review” of the incident, Clark informed the appropriate individuals — namely, Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks — of a need to initiate a formal “transfer of authorities” from Austin to Hicks. At that point, regardless of Austin’s medical condition, Hicks was authorized to perform the duties of the secretary.
“Although Deputy Secretary Hicks, when informed of the ‘transfer of authority’ to her, was not notified of Secretary Austin’s hospitalization, she was at all times positioned to perform all the functions and duties of the Secretary,” the review states.
The review, prompted by Austin’s brief health emergency, focused on evaluating the processes and procedures followed during his hospitalization. It found no indication of wrongdoing or intentional concealment by Clark or any other Pentagon officials. Instead, it found the support staff worked appropriately through the channels while also respecting the confines of medical privacy laws.
According to the report, Austin underwent surgery for prostate cancer in late December and was briefly hospitalized again on Jan. 1, 2024, due to complications. According to the unclassified report, the Pentagon immediately followed established protocols by transferring the secretary’s duties to Hicks.
The review detailed the timeline of events, noting that Austin’s senior military assistant informed the relevant Pentagon staff about the transfer of authority on Jan. 2. It was not until Jan. 4 that the deputy secretary and her team were informed of Austin’s exact medical condition. The White House and Congress were officially notified on Jan. 5, followed by a public statement.
The report also highlights three major constraints faced by Austin’s staff: medical privacy laws, the secretary’s fluctuating condition, and limited communication options while Austin was in intensive care. Despite these challenges, the team executed the transfer of authority following standard procedures, the review found.
The 30-day review concluded that, while there were areas for improvement in communication protocols, the report states: “Nothing examined during this review demonstrated any indication of ill intent or an attempt to obfuscate.”
The review also recommended eight policy changes to improve information sharing during medical emergencies, all of which Austin has directed to be implemented promptly.
Tuberville’s latest actions are part of a broader pattern of obstructionism that has seen him clash with Austin, top military officials and members of his own party over military policies, including those related to reproductive health care access, and hold up the promotions of qualified and deserving officers over his personal political agenda.
Earlier this year, Tuberville stalled over 451 military promotions in protest of the Pentagon’s policy of reimbursing travel costs for service members seeking abortions across state lines, a stance he maintained for over ten months despite growing pressure from Senate colleagues.
His hold on Clark’s promotion—a critical role commanding U.S. forces in the Pacific—again raises questions about the senator’s motivations, particularly when weighed against its factual accuracy and its potential costs to the readiness of the U.S. military.
Pentagon spokesperson James Adams brought up the effect on readiness in a statement to the Associated Press about Tuberville’s new hold, and called Clark’s promotion “critical.”
“Lt. Gen. Clark is highly qualified and was nominated for this critical position because of his experience and strategic expertise,” Adams said. “We urge the Senate to confirm all of our qualified nominees.”
