Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin will undergo a nonsurgical procedure and he will temporarily step back from his duties. During this time, Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen Hicks will assume his responsibilities. This transition is expected to run smoothly, as it’s customary for the Deputy Defense Secretary to take over when the head is unavailable. Lloyd Austin’s specific procedure wasn’t specified, but it’s assured that he will return to his duties once he has sufficiently recovered. The dates of this temporary transition have not yet been provided, but updates