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The Pentagon’s second in command, Defense Deputy Secretary Kathleen Hicks, was unaware that Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin was in the hospital when she assumed some of his duties early final week, in line with a senior navy official.
Pentagon press secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder revealed in a press release on Friday that Austin was admitted to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center final Monday, following problems with an elective medical process.
A senior protection official told Fox News that Austin initially supposed to earn a living from home in the course of the first week of January.
The press was not told of the information for days as a result of of “medical and personal privacy issues,” Ryder famous.
PENTAGON FACING BACKLASH OVER FAILING TO DISCLOSE SEC. AUSTIN’S ILLNESS: ‘HARMS CREDIBILITY’
Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin participates in a gathering with Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto on the Pentagon on June 23, 2023 in Arlington, Virginia. (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)
Also stored out of the loop for days have been President Biden, National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, the White House Chief of Staff, different senior White House officers and the second in command on the Pentagon.
Hicks, who was on a beforehand scheduled trip in Puerto Rico was not told Austin had been hospitalized till Thursday. As quickly as she came upon her senior was hospitalized, she deliberate to place out a press assertion and return to Washington, D.C. on Friday, a senior U.S. protection officers confirmed with Fox News. Despite her plans, Hicks was told Austin would resume his duties on Friday.
Although Hicks was told of Austin’s hospitalization on Thursday, Ryder mentioned, “certain operational duties” have been transferred to her on Jan. 2.
DEFENSE SECRETARY AUSTIN HOSPITALIZED FOLLOWING SURGERY COMPLICATIONS
U.S. Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen Hicks speaks throughout a September eleventh Pentagon Staff Memorial Observance ceremony on the Pentagon courtyard on September 8, 2023 in Arlington, Virginia. (Alex Wong/Getty Images)
“On the afternoon of January 2, the Secretary of Defense transferred to the Deputy Secretary of Defense certain operational responsibilities that require constant secure communications capabilities,” Ryder mentioned. “This transfer occurs from time-to-time and is not tied chiefly to health-related matters. The deputy secretary keeps a complete suite of communications and capable staff with her at all times, regardless of geographic location.”
A senior protection official added that Hicks instantly told employees to draft the general public assertion and congressional outreach.
“Deputy Secretary Hicks made some routine operational and management decisions for the Department over this period and was fully authorized and ready to support the President on other military matters, should the need have risen,” the senior protection official mentioned.
The Pentagon is seen from a flight taking off from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in Arlington, Virginia. (Alex Wong/Getty Images)
The information got here as tensions remained heightened in the Middle East when a U.S. strike killed 4 members of an Iran-aligned militia group in Baghdad and two suicide bombs in Iran left no less than 103 folks lifeless. Israel additionally continued its bombardment of Gaza whereas Austin was hospitalized.
Stars and Stripes reported Austin remained hospitalized on Saturday.
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It continues to be unclear why Austin was hospitalized in the primary place, or what the elective process was or when it occurred.
Fox News’ Sarah Rumpf-Whitten and Michael Dorgan contributed to this report.
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