Biden defends Pentagon chief Austin after hospitalization furor
ABOARD AIR FORCE ONE (Reuters) -U.S. President Joe Biden does not plan to fire Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin after his failure to disclose his hospitalization last week, officials said on Monday, as the Pentagon revealed a second hospital stay that was kept from the White House. Biden's administration attempted to quiet a political furor that has erupted following revelations over the past several days that Biden did not know his defense secretary was in the hospital for several days, although Austin's role means that he is supposed to be available at a moment's notice in the ...