Pentagon chief Austin hospitalized

 Pentagon chief Lloyd Austin was hospitalized on Monday with complications from a routine medical procedure and is recovering and expects to be able to return to work on Saturday, the department said.

Pentagon chief Lloyd Austin was hospitalized on Monday with complications from a routine medical procedure and is recovering and expects to be able to return to work on Saturday, the department said.

“On the evening of January 1, Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III was admitted to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center due to complications from a recent elective medical procedure,” Pentagon press secretary Patrick Ryder said in a statement.

Ryder noted that the head of the department is recovering and expects to “take up his duties” on Saturday.