Pentagon Press Secretary Air Force Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder Holds a Press Briefing

Contributing sentiments towards policy:

74% : Beginning the statement, quote, "Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III underwent non-surgical procedures under general anesthesia to address his bladder issue.
64% : He has not spoken to the President, to my knowledge.
62% : In terms of -- my understanding is that that procedure would have been today.
62% : To my knowledge, that hasn't necessarily been bounded.
56% : To my knowledge, he has not.
51% : So in that sense, she is acting as the Secretary of Defense.
46% : Yeah, she has assumed the duties and functions of the Secretary of Defense.
44% : At approximately 4:55 pm the same day, the Secretary transferred the functions and duties of the Office of the Secretary of Defense to Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks.
44% : Deputy Secretary Hicks continues to retain the functions and duties of the Secretary of Defense at this time.
44% : In the last two years, the Department of Defense has done more than ever to advance a shared vision for a free and open Indo-Pacific region.
43% : Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs Dr. Celeste Wallander, who will be in Brussels this week, is prepared to represent the Secretary as required.
42% : And Dr. Wallander, as you know, has been at the -- at the center of working for the Department of Defense to represent the United States and our support for the UDCG.
42% : The secretary, of course, has full confidence in the Deputy Secretary of Defense.

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