Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin’s Hospitalization Deepens Mystery of His Absence

The Pentagon’s No. 2 official didn’t learn that her boss was hospitalized Jan. 1 until four days after she had assumed some of his duties, U.S. military officials said Sunday, deepening the mystery of why Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin was hospitalized and why he hid his medical situation from senior defense officials and even President Biden until days after he was admitted. 

Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathy Hicks, who was on scheduled leave in Puerto Rico, had already assumed some of Austin’s duties that week, which happens from time to time, Pentagon officials said. Hicks had secure communications at her location while on vacation, as is routine.

But she wasn’t informed of the gravity of Austin’s hospitalization, which included some time in the intensive care unit of Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Washington, until Thursday. That was about the same time when Jake Sullivan, White House national security adviser, was informed, and when Sullivan in turn told Biden. The next day, on Friday, members of Congress who have oversight of the Pentagon, were told of Austin’s condition, and the Pentagon announced it publicly. 

Austin, who resumed his responsibilities as defense secretary Friday night, remained hospitalized Sunday. He had had what officials described as an elective procedure during scheduled leave, on Dec. 22, returning home the next day, Pentagon officials said, without disclosing what the treatment was, citing privacy reasons.