US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin was hospitalized: the Pentagon named the reason

The head of the Pentagon was in the hospital/Photo from the network X Lloyd Austin

US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin was hospitalized, but the Pentagon announced this only 4 days later. The reason for the hospitalization was complications after a planned medical procedure.

This is stated in an official statement on the Pentagon website. However, the United States did not disclose what complications Austin had.

What is known about Austin's hospitalization

As the report states, Lloyd Austin was hospitalized on the evening of January 1 at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. The reason for this was complications that arose after a planned medical procedure.

The Pentagon did not disclose any more details and only added that Austin is recovering and will return to duty in the near future. However, it is not yet known when the US Secretary of State will be released from the hospital.

He is recovering well and expects to return to full duties today volume. The Deputy Secretary of Defense has been ready throughout this time to act and carry out the minister's authority if required, the Pentagon said.

CNN also reports that journalists began to wonder whether Why didn’t the Pentagon report this earlier, but waited 4 days. To this, press secretary Major General Pat Ryder said that “this was a situation that was evolving.” He also added that the Pentagon also took into account “other factors,” in particular personal privacy.

Secrecy criticized in the US Pentagon

The Pentagon Press Association, in a letter to officials, criticized the secrecy of Austin's hospitalization. In their message, they stated that the Secretary of Defense is a public person who has no right to claim medical confidentiality in such a situation.

At that time “With growing threats to U.S. troops in the Middle East and the U.S. playing a key national security role in the wars in Israel and Ukraine, it is especially important for the American public to be informed about the health and decision-making capacity of its top defense official,” the statement said. Associations.

In addition, the Association noted that during Austin’s hospitalization, the United States attacked pro-Iranian forces in Baghdad and killed the commander. However, Ryder stated that this operation took place in coordination with Austin.