The U.S. Department of Defense (Pentagon) stated late yesterday (Friday) that Secretary Lloyd Austin has been hospitalized since Monday due to an unspecified health issue, without providing details on why the matter was kept secret throughout the week. Austin (70 years old) is second in command of the U.S. military, right after President Joe Biden, and his duties require him to be available at any moment to address any national security crisis.
The department did not mention if Austin lost consciousness before or after entering Walter Reed National Military Medical Center on January 1, nor how much of his responsibilities will be taken over by his deputy, Kathleen Hicks. These responsibilities include preparedness to respond to any anticipated nuclear attack.
The department said that Austin suffered from "complications following an elective medical procedure," but refrained from disclosing what the procedure was or the complications he experienced. Major General Pat Ryder, a spokesperson for the Department of Defense, stated that the secretary "is recovering well and is expected to resume his full duties today."
