the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Washington DC, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin’s recent hospitalization, shrouded in secrecy and with delayed notifications to key officials, has triggered criticism and calls for transparency on Capitol Hill. The 70-year-old Austin’s admission to the hospital on January 1, following an undisclosed elective medical procedure, has raised questions about the Pentagon’s handling of the situation. Both Republicans and Democrats are demanding answers regarding the delayed disclosure and the potential impact on the chain of command.