"Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin's Hospitalization Sparks Controversy and Calls for Resignation"

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin was hospitalized for an infection related to surgery for prostate cancer, which was detected early last month and treated with a "minimally invasive procedure" on Dec. 22. The Pentagon faced criticism for failing to notify the White House and Congress about Austin's hospitalization for several days, prompting calls for his resignation and an investigation into the lack of disclosure. President Biden expressed full confidence in Austin, and both the White House and Pentagon are reviewing their notification processes for when a Cabinet secretary falls ill.