Pentagon Chief in Intensive Care, White House Unaware

The Pentagon did not inform the White House about U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin's three-day hospitalization, according to Politico, citing two officials.

"The Pentagon did not notify senior officials of the National Security Council at the White House about Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin's hospitalization until Thursday, three days after he arrived at Walter Reed Medical Center," the report states.

It is noted that Austin was hospitalized on January 1, and the public, as well as Congress according to sources from the publication, were informed only on Friday.

According to the publication, the news of Austin's hospitalization has caused "shock" among senior officials, including National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, who were unaware of the complications faced by the defense secretary after medical intervention.

The article states that Congress was informed of Austin's illness just 15 minutes before the Pentagon issued a public press release on it.

The following day, the Pentagon released a statement from Austin, where he mentioned that he is recovering and expects to return to work soon. The Secretary also admitted that he could have better informed the public about his health problems.

According to NBC, citing its sources within the government, the 70-year-old secretary spent several days in intensive care, passing his duties to Deputy Kathleen Hicks. He fully returned to work on Friday evening.