Several concerns have emerged following the undisclosed hospitalization of U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, as key officials, including President Joe Biden, were unaware of the condition of the highest-ranking defense official for several days.
Pentagon press secretary Major General Pat Ryder revealed on Friday that Austin had been admitted to the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center on January 1 due to “complications following a recent elective medical procedure.”
The president was reportedly informed on Thursday evening, several days after Austin’s hospitalization began, with National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan and the White House’s National Security Council being notified on Thursday morning, according to a Biden administration official.
The extended period of secrecy has raised questions about the seriousness of Austin’s illness, the lack of communication with other government officials, and the contingency plans during his hospitalization, Newsweek reported.
This departure from established protocol occurred amid heightened global tensions and increased demands on the U.S. Defense Department.
The Defense Department cited medical and privacy considerations for not publicly disclosing Austin’s absence, as reported by The Associated Press on Saturday.
Written by B.C. Begley
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B.C. Begley 