Lloyd Austin’s chief of staff, blamed for Pentagon chief’s hospitalization secrecy, to step down
WASHINGTON — Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin’s chief of staff — who took the heat for failing to tell the White House that the intensely private former Army general had been hospitalized in January — is stepping down from her position this month, according to the Pentagon.
Kelly Magsamen, Austin’s right-hand woman since he took office in 2021, has kept mostly quiet throughout her tenure, working behind the scenes as “the chief architect of every initiative I have launched to defend our nation,” the secretary said in a statement on Wednesday.
“She proved instrumental in navigating difficult international challenges — from Russia’s unprovoked invasion of Ukraine to the devastating Israel-Hamas war after the October 7th Hamas atrocities,” Austin said. “From evacuations of embassies under extraordinary pressure to standing up to bullying and coercion by the People’s Republic of China in the South China Sea.”
Magsamen made news early this year when the Pentagon blamed her for the White House going four days without knowing that Austin had been hospitalized on New Year’s Day with complications from a recent prostatectomy.
Between Jan. 1 and Jan. 5, Austin was unable to execute his duties, transferring them while he was incapacitated to deputy secretary Kathleen Hicks — without President Biden’s knowledge or, initially, that of Hicks, who was vacationing in Puerto Rico at the time.
After the incident became public and Austin faced backlash, Defense Department spokesman Air Force Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder explained that the message was not sent because the chief of staff — responsible for such communications — was out sick with the flu at the time.
Magsamen issued a memorandum shortly thereafter announcing that the DoD’s director of administration and management would “immediately lead a review” of the incident and “evaluate the processes and procedures through which the deputy secretary of defense was notified that she should carry out” Austin’s functions.
The Pentagon has denied the snafu is related to her departure.
“From day one of this administration, Kelly’s leadership, counsel, and selfless service made our nation safer, made the lives of our people better and more rewarding and rendered the heavy burden of this office of mine a good bit lighter,” Austin said. “At every stage, she provided a steady hand guiding our staff and the Department. I am — and will remain — in her debt.”
Magsamen previously served as principal deputy assistant secretary of defense for Asian and Pacific security affairs under the Obama administration, according to her biography.
She later worked as vice president for national security and international policy at the Center for American Progress, a DC-based left-wing think tank.
