Defense Secretary Austin Hospitalized Again, Deputy Assumes Duties
• Defense Secretary Austin transferred duties to deputy as he's hospitalized for bladder issue symptoms
• Deputy Secretary Hicks assumed Pentagon duties shortly before 5pm; White House, Joint Chiefs, Congress notified
• Austin taken to Walter Reed hospital around 220pm; no timeframe given for hospital stay
• Austin previously hospitalized for prostate cancer treatment complications earlier this year, faced criticism for not properly notifying officials
• After earlier hospitalization, Pentagon conducted 30-day review of notification procedures around transfer of duties