Overview

• Austin's aide requested an ambulance to arrive without lights or sirens, aiming to keep the situation 'subtle'.
• Austin was hospitalized on New Year's Day due to complications from a prostate cancer surgery he underwent in December.
• The White House, Congress, and the public were not informed of Austin's hospitalization for several days.
• President Biden has expressed full confidence in Austin despite admitting that the defense secretary showed a lapse in judgement by not informing the White House of his hospitalization.
• Austin was released from the hospital on Monday and is expected to make a full recovery.