Lloyd Austin will be retained in his post, was hospitalized for several days, did not even inform the President

The White House says US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin will keep his post despite controversy over late disclosure of his hospitalization last week. White House spokesman John Kirby told reporters that there are no plans for Secretary Austin to do anything other than remain in office. Mr. Austin, 70, was still in the hospital Monday morning, according to Kirby.

The White House and the Pentagon came under criticism after it was revealed that Austin was in the hospital for three days before President Joe Biden was informed. Austin is second in command to the President in the command structure of the US military and is expected to be ready to deal with any national security crisis at any time. Kirby said Monday that the White House would investigate the incident and learn from it. He said that we will do what is similar to a hot wash and try to see if the processes and procedures need to be changed or modified at all so that we can learn from this.

He said the president’s main concern is Austin’s health and recovery and that he hopes to see him back at the Pentagon soon. A Pentagon spokesperson said Austin had an elective medical procedure on December 22 and was flown home the next day. However, on the night of January 1, Austin felt severe pain and was taken to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Washington, DC.