On February 11, local time, the U.S. Department of Defense said that after Secretary of Defense Austin was taken to the hospital for treatment of a "bladder emergency," his responsibilities have been transferred to Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks.

当地时间2月11日，美国国防部表示，国防部长奥斯汀因“膀胱急症”被送往医院接受治疗后，他的职责已经移交给国防部副部长凯瑟琳·希克斯。

Patrick Ryder, a spokesman for the Department of Defense, said in a statement that Austin, for now, retains his functions and responsibilities as Secretary of Defense and carries to the hospital the unclassified as well as classified communications systems he needs to perform his duties. However, in a statement released that evening, Ryder said Austin had transferred the functions and responsibilities of the office to Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks.

美国国防部发言人帕特里克·莱德11日早些时候在一份声明中表示，奥斯汀目前仍保留其作为国防部长的职能和职责，并携带他履行职责所需的非机密以及机密通信系统前往医院。然而，莱德在当天晚上发表的声明中称，奥斯汀已经将办公室的职能和职责移交给国防部副部长凯瑟琳·希克斯。