In a shocking revelation, the Pentagon admitted on Friday that Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin was hospitalized at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center on Monday for four days after complications resulting from elective surgery.
Secretary Austin spent four days in the ICU (intensive care unit) and his deputy had to take over, according to NBC News.
The Pentagon still refuses to release details of Lloyd Austin's health concerns. It is not clear what the elective procedure is.
Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks—who was on vacation and on leave in Puerto Rico—had to take over for Lloyd Austin.
The official said, according to NBC News, that Hicks “maintained full contact with Department of Defense personnel at all times.” “She monitored the daily operations of the Department of Defense and conducted some routine work.”
NBC News reported:
Amid tensions in the Middle East, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has been hospitalized, including spending four days in the intensive care unit, according to two senior administration officials.
A senior Defense Department official said Friday that Austin has been unable to perform his duties since New Year's Day. Pentagon press secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Rader told NBC News that Austin “resumed his full duties” on Friday evening. He remained in the hospital on Saturday.
No details were available about what happened to him. The source said that he remained in the hospital on Friday evening, and it was not clear when he would be discharged.
Austin was admitted to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center Monday night due to “complications following a recent elective medical procedure,” Ryder said in a statement Friday evening.
Meanwhile, the Houthis are attacking ships in the Red Sea and the US Navy is fighting Yemeni-backed terrorists.
As TGP's Christine Taylor reported last week, the Houthis are firing missiles at commercial ships, boarding ships and attacking US forces.
Sleep tight, America.
