[ad_1]
- Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III was hospitalized on the night of January 1, 2024.
- Austin was hospitalized due to “complications following a recent elective medical procedure.”
- Press Secretary Pat Ryder held a news conference Thursday and did not mention Austin’s hospitalization.
Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III was hospitalized on the night of January 1, 2024, but the nation only learned Friday night that he had been admitted to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center.
In a press statement released by the Pentagon on Friday, it was revealed that Austin was hospitalized due to “complications following a recent elective medical procedure.”
“He is recovering well and is scheduled to return to full duty starting today,” the statement said.
It is unclear whether Austin suffered from any form of incapacity that rendered him unable to perform his duties. “The Deputy Secretary of Defense has always been prepared to act on behalf of and exercise the authority of the Secretary as necessary,” the Pentagon said in a press statement.
Spokesman Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder held a press conference Thursday, Jan. 4, and did not mention Austin’s hospitalization.
A Pentagon spokesperson said: “The situation was evolving and many factors had to be considered, including medical and personal privacy issues.” “We are currently in a position to provide updated information.”
The United States is supporting Israel in its fight against Hamas, fending off Houthi threats to commercial shipping in the Red Sea and nearby waterways, and protecting vital shipping lanes.
In a scathing letter to Ryder and Chris Meagher, the assistant secretary of defense for public affairs, the Pentagon Press Association called the revelation days later an “outrage.”
“The public has a right to know when a U.S. Cabinet member is hospitalized, given anesthesia, or assigned a mission as a result of a medical procedure,” the Pentagon Press Association wrote.
Updated January 5, 2024: This article has been updated with comment from a Department of Defense spokesperson.
Correction: January 5, 2024: This article has been corrected to reflect the date of Austin’s hospitalization. He was admitted to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center on January 1, 2024, not January 1, 2023.
[ad_2]
Source link