The Pentagon's deputy commander, Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks, did not know that Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin was hospitalized when she took over some of his duties early last week, a senior military official said. It is said that
Pentagon spokesman Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder said in a statement Friday that Austin was admitted to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center last Monday due to complications from an elective medical procedure.
A senior defense official told Fox News that Austin was originally scheduled to work from home during the first week of January.
Ryder noted that the news was not relayed to the press for several days due to “medical and personal privacy concerns.”
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Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin participates in a meeting with Italian Defense Minister Guido Crossetto at the Pentagon on June 23, 2023 in Arlington, Virginia. (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)
President Biden, National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan, White House Chief of Staff, other White House officials, and the Pentagon's deputy commander were also left out for several days.
Hicks was on a planned vacation in Puerto Rico, but didn't learn about Austin's hospitalization until Thursday. A senior U.S. defense official confirmed to Fox News that she released her press statement as soon as she learned that her senior had been hospitalized, and that she was scheduled to return to Washington, D.C., on Friday. Despite her plans, Ms. Hicks was told that Austin would resume her duties on Friday.
Hicks was informed of Austin's hospitalization on Thursday, but Ryder said “certain operational duties” were transferred to her on January 2.
Defense Secretary Austin hospitalized due to surgical complications
U.S. Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks speaks at the September 11th Pentagon Memorial Ceremony at 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 certain operational responsibilities that require secure communication capabilities at all times to the Deputy Secretary of Defense,” Rider said. “This transfer occurs from time to time and is not primarily related to health-related issues. The Deputy Director always has full lines of communication and competent staff on hand, regardless of geographic location.”
The senior defense official added that Hicks immediately directed his staff to draft a public statement and lobbying Congress.
“During this period, Deputy Secretary Hicks made several decisions regarding the day-to-day operations and management of the Department of Defense and was given full authority to assist the President on other military matters as the need arose,” the senior defense official said. We had it and were ready.”
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The Pentagon is visible from a plane taking off from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in Arlington, Virginia. (Alex Wong/Getty Images)
The news comes as tensions remain high in the Middle East after a US airstrike killed four members of an Iranian-backed militia in Baghdad and two suicide bombings killed at least 103 people in Iran. Ta. Israel continued to bombard Gaza while Austin was hospitalized.
Stars and Stripes reported that Austin remained hospitalized Saturday.
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It is still unclear why Austin was admitted to the hospital in the first place, what the planned surgery was, and when it was performed.
FOX News' Sarah Rumpf-Witten and Michael Dorgan contributed to this report.
