The Pentagon released new details on Sunday about Austin's continued hospitalization, saying he had an initial medical procedure as far back as 22 December from which he went home a day later. Then on Monday 1 January, Austin, who is 70, had to be admitted to intensive care at Walter Reed military hospital in Maryland after experiencing severe pain.
Deputy defense secretary Kathleen Hicks assumed some of his operational duties on Tuesday 2 January, while she was on vacation in Puerto Rico, a US official said. But Hicks was not told why Austin was unavailable until Thursday 4 January, three officials told Reuters. That is the same day that Biden and other senior White House officials were told that Austin had been hospitalized since Monday 1 January, five officials said.
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