Lloyd Austin was admitted to intensive care unit while hospitalized
Cami Mondeaux
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Defense Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin reportedly spent four days in the intensive care unit while he was hospitalized earlier this week due to complications from a minor procedure.
The top defense official was not able to perform his duties from New Year’s Day until Friday, and his responsibilities were handled by Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks, sources told NBC News. Hicks was reportedly on pre-scheduled leave at the time. Austin later “resumed his full duties” on Friday evening, the Pentagon confirmed, but the defense secretary remained hospitalized on Saturday.
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The news of Austin’s hospitalization was first reported on Friday afternoon, days after the defense official was admitted. It has not been released what complications Austin faced, although Pentagon officials said they arose from an “elective medical procedure.” However, the department did not provide details on what the procedure was or how serious Austin’s conditions were.
The secrecy around Austin’s hospitalization raised questions, especially as it overlapped with an ISIS bombing in Iran and a Department of Defense-authorized airstrike in Baghdad earlier this week. A DOD official told the Washington Examiner that Austin and President Joe Biden authorized the airstrike.
“Secretary Austin did not have to affirmatively delegate his duties because by statute, the Deputy Secretary is automatically authorized to perform the duties of the Secretary if he is unable to perform them,” the official said. “Medical professionals have been consulted throughout.”
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When asked why details have been scarce on the situation, Pentagon press secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder reportedly said it was “an evolving situation in which we had to consider a number of factors.”
“At all times, the Deputy Secretary of Defense [Hicks] was prepared to act for and exercise the powers of the Secretary, if required,” Ryder added in a separate statement.