The department had a communications setup that allowed her to do her job from the island while Austin was hospitalized. Hicks assumed some of Austin’s duties on Tuesday, but it was not until Thursday that she was allegedly informed of his hospitalization. U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin has been hospitalized since Monday due to complications following a minor elective medical procedure. Hicks “immediately engaged staff on the drafting of a public statement and congressional outreach” when she learned of Austin’s hospitalization, a defense official told NPR. Cabinet members are hospitalized, under anesthesia or when duties are delegated as the result of any medical procedure.

Source: Huffington Post January 08, 2024 01:32 UTC