Senator Schmitt joins Senator Wicker, SASC Republicans, In Demanding Accountability for Department of Defense Chain of Command Crisis

WASHINGTON – Today, Senator Eric Schmitt joined Ranking Member of the Senate Armed Services Committee Senator Roger Wicker (R-MS), and 10 other Senate Armed Services Committee Republicans on a letter to Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin raising basic questions about the failures related to his incapacitation and transfer of authority.

The Senators expressed concern that the Secretary’s actions are in violation of the law and requested an immediate update on the timeline of events subsequent to the Secretary falling ill. The failures displayed constitute an alarming threat to our continuity of government and national security during a very dangerous time for our nation.

The Senators requested an accounting of the full timeline of the events over the last two weeks and want answers to more than 15 questions. The members are also demanding more information about the role that staff at the Department played in delaying the transmission of critical information, and if similar transfers of authority have occurred in the past without Congressional notification.

Senator Schmitt along with Senator Roger Wicker (R-MS), Senator Deb Fischer (R-NE), Senator Tom Cotton (R-AR), Senator Mike Rounds (R-SD), Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA), Senator Dan Sullivan (R-AK), Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Senator Rick Scott (R-FL), Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL), Senator Ted Budd (R-NC), and Senator Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) joined on the letter. 

The full letter can be found here.