The White House is also conducting a review of each of the Cabinet agencies’ protocols in the event that someone needs to take over authority
Following the defence secretary’s previously undisclosed absence, the White House issued a new set of procedures to Cabinet members if their duties can’t be performed.
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin’s hospitalisation arose from complications of a procedure for prostate cancer, the Pentagon announced on Tuesday.
Hours earlier, the White House Chief of Staff Jeff Zients told Cabinet secretaries in a memo, obtained by the Associated Press, that if the Cabinet members need to re-delegate authority, they must notify his office and Offices of Cabinet Affairs and White House Chief of Staff.
Mr Zients added that the White House will be “conducting a review of agency protocols for a delegation of authority.” Each department is required to submit its current protocols by Friday 12 January to the Office of Cabinet Affairs, the memo added.
There’s probably a default chain of command; they’re probably just realising that the chain is dominated by geriatrics and oligarchs who don’t know how to govern without being hand held by corporate lawyers and lobbyists.
Every job I’ve ever worked had a way to call out sick, detailed on day one.
Every job with a shred of responsibility, keeping coverage by confirming that the other guy was covering while letting my boss know that I was out of pocket for a bit was basic procedure.
They do have a procedure- especially for the SecDef. The problem is that it wasn’t followed. At all.
This level of incompetence is infuriating