US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, hospitalised since January 1, 'recovering well'

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Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has been hospitalised since Monday, due to complications following a minor elective medical procedure..

Air Force Major General Pat Ryder, the Pentagon press secretary, said.. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has been hospitalised since Monday, due to complications following a minor elective medical procedure..

The Pentagon Press Association, which represents media members who cover the Defense Department, sent a letter of protest to Ryder and Chris Meagher, the assistant defense secretary for public affairs...

The fact that he has been at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center for four days and the Pentagon is only now alerting the public late on a Friday evening is an outrage, the PPA said in its letter..

At a time when there are growing threats to U.S. military service members in the Middle East and the U.S. is playing key national security roles in the wars in Israel and Ukraine, it is particularly critical for the American public to be informed about the health status and decision-making ability of its top defense leader...

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