Ailing Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin fires back at Republicans claiming he is 'irrelevant' and insists secret hospital trip was not meant to be hidden in shortened Congressional hearing due to his health issues

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin admitted he made a mistake by not revealing he was in hospital or had cancer during a grilling on Capitol Hill cut short because of his health problems.

The ailing Pentagon chief, 70, told Republicans there was a 'notification breakdown' and dismissed claims he was 'aloof' and 'irrelevant' when he revealed he often doesn't speak to President Joe Biden for days at a time. 

Austin walked extremely slowly down the hallway toward the hearing room Thursday morning where he is facing infuriated lawmakers trying to get to the bottom of why he failed to tell President Joe Biden about his sudden absence for three full days.

He ignored DailyMail.com's question on whether he is healthy enough to perform his duties as secretary of defense. 

Austin acknowledged that Congress has 'legitimate concerns' about his health in his opening remarks. 

But he insisted that he 'never told anyone not to inform' Biden or administration officials about his hospitalization on January 1.

A handful of Code Pink pro-Gaza protestors stood up inside the hearing room holding signs stating that Austin has 'blood on his hands' for supporting Israel in its war with Hamas terrorists. They held up their hands dripping in red paint before being kicked out by Capitol Police.

Austin, 70, was hospitalized unexpectedly on January 1 after undergoing surgery for prostate cancer a few weeks earlier. He did not inform President Biden about his whereabouts until January 4. He also kept second-in-command Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks in the dark.

'It's totally unacceptable that it took over three days to inform the President that the Secretary of Defense was in the hospital and not in control of the Pentagon,'  House Armed Services Chairman Mike Rogers said at the hearing Thursday.

Austin was spotted walking extremely slowly down the hallway outside of the hearing room

Code Pink pro-Gaza protestors were staged inside the hearing room holding signs stating that Austin has 'blood on his hands'

He ignored DailyMail.com's question on whether he is healthy enough to perform his duties as secretary of defense

Rogers also granted Austin's request to limit the length of the hearing to two hours as he is still recovering.

'We understand you are still recovering, and sitting for too long is not the best thing for your health,' Rogers said in the remarks obtained by DailyMail.com.

Austin, 70, was hospitalized unexpectedly on January 1 after undergoing surgery for prostate cancer a week earlier

'So, in consultation with Ranking Member Smith, we've agreed to your request to limit your appearance before us today to two hours.'

That means that not all lawmakers get to question Austin in-person.

'What's important is that the president was not aware of the break down in command and control,' Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., told Austin during the hearing. 

Austin responded: 'What's important is that we provide him with credible options that he can pursue to address the situation.'

He claimed Deputy Secretary of Defense Hicks was informed that she had authority and that though Biden was not aware it was her in charge, that he did not break standard operating procedure. 

'There was no evidence of intention to obfuscate or, you know, willingly conceal something,' Austin told lawmakers.

He said his military assistants to made the decision to 'initiate the process’ of yielding his power to Hicks.

Rep. Jim Banks, R-Ind., pressed Austin on how long Biden went without knowing the Defense Secretary in the hospital.

'There are times when we go days without direct communication,' Austin said of his contact with Biden.

'Mr. Secretary. our adversaries should fear us. And what you've done is embarrassed us,' Banks added.

'Either the president is that aloof or you are irrelevant,' he continued. 

Many House Republicans have called for his resignation for failing to inform Biden about his condition, especially as wars rage in Ukraine and Israel. 

Austin didn't disclose the cause of his surgery - his prostate cancer - until Jan. 9th after facing days of questions about his hospitalization. Biden learned about it the same day as the general public. 

The Pentagon released a report earlier this week clearing Austin of wrongdoing for his secret hospitalization, but Republicans still want answers.

'Were you conscious at the time the decision to transfer power occurred," Rep. Mike Waltz, R-Fla., asked. 

Austin answered yes, but added he was not in the same room with the his staff who made that decision.

Biden did not know about the Defense Secretary's January 1 hospitalization, his January 2 procedure, or his January 3 post-surgery recovery, Austin confirmed to Waltz. 

'You don't know who made the decision not to inform the public?' Waltz asked.

Austin answered he did not know who made the decision not to inform the public of his medical emergency. 

'Nothing examined during this review demonstrated any indication of ill intent or an attempt to obfuscate,' the department concluded in its internal review. The unclassified portion was released on Monday.

It found concerns about medical privacy and a rapidly changing situation were mostly to blame for why Austin's hospitalization was kept from President Joe Biden, senior Pentagon officials and the public. 

Inspector General Robert Storch is still conducting his formal review. When announcing it, he said his office would examine any breaches of protocol surrounding Austin's surgery for prostrate cancer, his rehospitalization for complications and the lack of disclosure to the White House and general public.

The finding is unlikely to satisfy members of Congress, many of whom called for Austin's resignation. 

Chairman Rogers addresses the report saying he was 'led to believe' that the review 'would shed light on the matter.'

However, 'it includes no explanation of why the President and his staff were left in the dark.'

In addition, 'it makes no recommendations to improve communication with the White House,' Rogers will say.

'And unsurprisingly, it holds no one accountable,' he adds.

Protesters demonstrate as U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin arrives to testify before the House Armed Services Committee

Austin was re-admitted to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center on February 11, reporting discomfort from a bladder issue related to his December 2023 prostate cancer surgery. He was released on February 13.

He later apologized to President Biden and the American people for keeping his diagnosis a secret.

He said his diagnosis with prostate cancer as a 'gut punch' and said it 'shook' him personally.

'I was being treated for prostate cancer. The news shook me and I know it shakes so many others, especially in the black community. It was a gut punch,' he said.

Many House Republicans have called for his resignation for failing to inform Biden about his condition, especially as wars rage in Ukraine and Israel