CNN –
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin was admitted to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center on New Year's Day due to complications from a planned medical procedure, the Pentagon said Friday.
The Pentagon announced the hospitalization four days after Austin's initial admission. Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder, the Pentagon press secretary, did not mention the hospitalization at a news conference Thursday.
The brief statement did not detail what the procedure was or what complications followed the procedure, but did say that Austin is “recovering well.” Ryder told CNN that Austin remained hospitalized as of Friday afternoon but is expected to return to full work later on Friday. It is unclear when he will be released from the hospital.
Asked why the Pentagon waited four days to inform the public about Austin's hospitalization, Ryder said: “This was an evolving situation in which we had to consider a number of other factors,” including medical and privacy issues .
The Pentagon declined to say whether Austin was unconscious at any point during his hospitalization or whether he was ever in critical condition.
As defense secretary, Austin is one of the most critical members of the Biden administration's Cabinet and he is the civilian leader of the military, giving him one of the most important roles in the national security establishment – especially given rising tensions in the US military in the Middle East.
Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen Hicks is “ready to act on behalf of the minister and exercise his authority as necessary,” Ryder said in the statement.
Austin's hospitalization – and lack of recognition – comes as the US faces a range of national security problems abroad, including attacks on US troops in the Middle East, US naval ships intercepting Houthi boats from Yemen and the wars in Ukraine and the Gaza Strip.
During Austin's hospitalization, the United States carried out an attack against the commander of a pro-Iranian militia in Baghdad. Ryder said Austin authorized the strike before he was hospitalized.
The failure to publicly disclose Austin's hospitalization represents a break with previous precedent.
In a letter to Ryder and Chris Meagher, assistant secretary of defense for public affairs, the Pentagon Press Association expressed “outrage” at the failure to alert the public in a timely manner.
“It falls well below normal disclosure standards common in other federal departments when senior officials undergo medical procedures or are temporarily incapacitated,” the Pentagon Press Association wrote, requesting a meeting to discuss the situation. “The public has a right to know when members of the United States Cabinet are hospitalized, undergo anesthesia, or are assigned duties as a result of a medical procedure.” This was common even down to the presidential level. As the nation’s top defense secretary, Secretary Austin has no right to privacy in this situation.”
When President Joe Biden was hospitalized for a routine colonoscopy in 2021, the White House announced in advance that he would briefly transfer power to Vice President Kamala Harris.
And when Marine Corps Commandant Gen. Eric Smith was hospitalized in late October, the service notified the public within 24 hours that he had suffered a medical emergency that required immediate attention. The Marine Corps then listed the highest-ranking officer who would serve as deputy commander in his absence. Within four days, the Marine Corps said Smith had made excellent progress after a sudden cardiac arrest.
Smith is scheduled to undergo surgery in the coming weeks, followed by a period of rehabilitation. He has stated that he intends to resume his normal duties.
This story has been updated with additional information.