Pentagon press secretary apologizes for lack of transparency in Austin's secretive hospitalization

The Department of Defense's press secretary apologized Monday for not being more transparent about information regarding Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin's recent hospitalization — which the White House learned about three days after he was hospitalized for complications resulting from what was characterized as «a minor, elective procedure.»

Austin had an elective procedure on Dec. 22 and then went home the next day; however, on Jan. 1, «he began experiencing severe pain and was transported» back to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland, said Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder, the Department of Defense press secretary.

Ryder said he was informed about Austin's hospitalization on Tuesday, Jan. 2. The White House learned about it on Thursday night; Congress was first notified hospitalization on Friday afternoon — shortly before it was made public in a Pentagon news release.

«I recognized that I should have tried to learn more, and to press for an earlier public acknowledgement,» Ryder said Monday to the Pentagon press corps. «So I want to offer my apologies and my pledge to learn from this experience. And I will do everything I can to meet the standard that you expect from us.»

Ryder knew of Austin's hospitalization when he went to the podium on Thursday afternoon for an on-camera briefing — but said he had not followed up on Austin's condition.

On Tuesday, Austin's Chief of Staff Kelly Magsamen was sick with the flu, but she was made aware of his hospitalization, as was Austin's senior military aide, Ryder said. However, Magsamen's illness caused a delay in the notifications, he added.

«We are currently reviewing how we can approve these notification procedures to include White House and congressional