Questions Swirl Around Pentagon's Delayed Disclosure of Austin Hospitalization
-
Deputy Defense Secretary Hicks was not informed that Austin was hospitalized when she assumed some of his duties on January 2. Even senior leaders were kept in the dark.
-
Hicks was not told of Austin's hospitalization until January 4, at which point she made contingency plans to return to Washington.
-
Questions remain about the nature of Austin's medical condition and why his hospitalization was kept secret from officials and the public.
-
Unlike with other Cabinet members' health issues, the Pentagon did not promptly disclose details about Austin's hospitalization.
-
Austin has pledged to improve transparency about his health status amid media concerns, but questions linger around the Pentagon's handling of the situation.