The AUSTIN Act of 2024 requires cabinet-level officials to notify the President, Congress, and the public whenever they are temporarily unable to perform their duties, including due to illness or absence. Cabinet officials must submit written notice to the President and congressional leaders and publish the notification on their agency's public website within 24 hours, including details about why they cannot work and when they expect to return. The bill requires advance notice before the absence begins, though exceptions apply if the official is incapacitated, and it allows the President to waive public disclosure if national security is at stake—though congressional leaders can override this waiver if they disagree. Each cabinet official must designate at least one agency employee to handle these notifications if the official becomes incapacitated. The bill imposes penalties for violations, including loss of federal salary and potential employment termination, though it does not specify new funding requirements or implementation timelines beyond the 60-day deadline for designating notification officials.
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