Pentagon’s Deputy Chief Unaware of Defense Secretary Austin’s Hospitalization While Assuming Duties
Concerns about top-level communication remain after US Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin III‘s hidden illness. After Austin’s stay at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks took over on January 2, 2024, unaware of his condition. Many days later, the White House was aware of this lack of transparency. Defense … Read more