Former defense officials have said Austin (left), 70, is likely to keep his job despite going AWOL amid secret planned surgery - but an aide is likely to be fired over the chaos.
By Phil Stewart and Arshad Mohammed WASHINGTON (Reuters) -U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has been hospitalized since Monday for an unspecified medical .
US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin has been hospitalised since the beginning of the year for an unspecified medical issue, the Pentagon said on Saturday.