The chief of staff to Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin will announce Wednesday that she is stepping down, according to a senior administration official and a person familiar with her plans.
Kelly Magsamen was one of the very few people informed that Austin was in the hospital on New Year's Day, but she did not inform the White House or senior Pentagon staff.
The Pentagon press secretary later blamed the oversight in part on Kelly also being sick. She was the one who eventually called the White House to inform officials that Austin was in the intensive care unit at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center.
In a statement, Austin praised Magsamen, who was seen as one of his closest advisers. but did not offer an explanation for why she was stepping down.
“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,” he said. “At every stage, she provided a steady hand guiding our staff and the Department. I am — and will remain — in her debt.”
Magsamen will be leaving her post at the end of June, Austin said.
"If there is a better example of exemplary public service at a challenging time, I do not know of it," he added.
Austin had a series of medical setbacks after undergoing surgery in December to address a prostate cancer diagnosis.
He was hospitalized on New Year's Day following complications from a prostatectomy. He remained in the hospital for two weeks. He faced criticism at the time for not immediately informing the president or Congress of either his diagnosis or hospitalization.
He was taken back to Walter Reed in February for a bladder issue, admitted to intensive care for a second time and underwent a nonsurgical procedure under general anesthesia at the time.
