Top military officials were initially unaware of Austin’s hospitalization -media

The number two at the U.S. Defense Department was not informed that Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin had been hospitalized when she assumed some of his duties on Jan. 2, according to a report from CNN. Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks was not notified until two days later that Austin had been admitted on New Year’s Day to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, CNN reported on Sunday citing two unidentified defense officials.