The second-in-command at the Department of Defense (DOD) revealed that Austin was hospitalized two days after assuming some of his responsibilities.

According to a senior military official, Defense Deputy Secretary Kathleen Hicks was unaware that Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin was in the hospital when she assumed some of his duties early last week.

On Friday, Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder, the Pentagon press secretary, announced that Austin was admitted to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center on Monday due to complications from an elective medical procedure.

During the first week of January, Austin initially planned to work remotely, as revealed by a senior defense official to Planet Chronicle.

Ryder stated that the press was not informed about the news for several days due to "privacy concerns."

The White House and Pentagon officials were out of the loop for days.

Hicks, who was on a previously scheduled vacation in Puerto Rico, was not informed about Austin's hospitalization until Thursday. Upon learning about her senior's hospitalization, she immediately planned to release a press statement and return to Washington, D.C. on Friday. However, a senior U.S. defense official confirmed to Planet Chronicle that Austin would resume his duties on Friday, despite her plans.

On January 2, Ryder took over certain operational duties despite being informed about Austin's hospitalization on Thursday.

"The Secretary of Defense transferred certain operational responsibilities to the Deputy Secretary of Defense that require constant secure communications capabilities, as per Ryder's statement. This transfer happens periodically and is not primarily linked to health-related issues. The deputy secretary always has a complete set of communication tools and capable staff with her, regardless of where she is located."

The senior defense official stated that Hicks instructed staff to create a public statement and contact Congress following the meeting.

The senior defense official stated that Deputy Secretary Hicks made routine operational and management decisions for the Department and was fully prepared to support the President on other military matters if necessary.

Tensions in the Middle East remained high as a U.S. strike killed four members of an Iran-aligned militia group in Baghdad and two suicide bombs in Iran left at least 103 people dead. Meanwhile, Israel continued its bombardment of Gaza and Austin was hospitalized.

According to Ryder, Austin is still hospitalized at Walter Reed and a release date has not been determined yet.

Despite the lack of clarity regarding Austin's initial reason for hospitalization, the elective procedure he underwent, or the date it took place, it remains unclear.

Planet Chronicle’ Sarah Rumpf-Whitten and Michael Dorgan contributed to this report.