So much for the Biden administration's transparency - 

Unbeknownst to the American public during the Ukraine-Russia war, the Israeli-Hamas war, tensions with China, and attacks on US military in the Middle East, the Biden Administration's Department of Defense intentionally chose not to inform Americans that Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin was out of commission.

The Secretary was hospitalized on Monday because of complications following an elective surgery, the Pentagon announced Friday.

He was discharged and is expected to resume his full duties Friday evening, Air Force Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder said in a statement reported in Military Times. 

The stated excuse for not informing the public was "privacy." 

“It was an evolving situation, and taking privacy into account,” Ryder told Military Times of the decision not to disclose Austin’s health status when he was first hospitalized.

Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen Hicks was filling in for Austin, Ryder said.

“The deputy has conducted some routine business for department on his behalf,” he said.

When Marine Commandant General Eric Smith suffered a heart attack, the public was informed as noted in Military Times.