Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has been hospitalized at a military hospital since Monday night due to complications resulting from a recent elective medical procedure, the Pentagon announced Friday night. "On the evening of January 1, Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III was admitted to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center for complications following a recent elective medical procedure," Pentagon Press Secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder said in a statement. Another Defense Department spokesman declined to specify what procedure was performed on Austin other than describing it as "a minor, elective procedure.”No information was provided as to what the complications were that Austin experienced following the procedure that required his hospitalization. "At all times, the Deputy Secretary of Defense was prepared to act for and exercise the powers of the Secretary, if required," he added. Defense Secretary Austin hospitalized since Monday due to complications after minor procedure: Pentagon originally appeared on abcnews.go.com

Source: ABC News January 06, 2024 01:17 UTC