![U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin speaks during a joint statement with his Israeli counterpart, Minister of Defence Yoav Gallant following their meeting at Ben Gurion International Airport in Thursday, March 9, 2023.](https://www.militarytimes.com/resizer/v2/7PQJQ74ECFGBHPBCPXMNVLTHDU.jpg?auth=e2c3f62913e931c09a5a66e981cf9c107f8baf36ad253feb8bed4b68401cf0fd&width=3000&height=2000)
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![U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin speaks during a joint statement with his Israeli counterpart, Minister of Defence Yoav Gallant following their meeting at Ben Gurion International Airport in Thursday, March 9, 2023.](https://www.militarytimes.com/resizer/v2/7PQJQ74ECFGBHPBCPXMNVLTHDU.jpg?auth=e2c3f62913e931c09a5a66e981cf9c107f8baf36ad253feb8bed4b68401cf0fd&width=3000&height=2000)
![Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin testifies before a Senate Appropriations Committee on Capitol Hill in Washington, Oct. 31, 2023.](https://www.militarytimes.com/resizer/v2/FWITDRDM7REBJOO5CJRJHSF5PI.jpg?auth=be334c79d2f3a8baab3e5f0e82b6eee53286e1e975d05e16f02977f3887f1fe6&width=5241&height=3494)
Why was Defense Secretary Austin’s hospital stay kept secret for days?
Members of Congress and Pentagon leaders were unaware for days that Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin had been hospitalized since Monday.
By Lolita C. Baldor, The Associated Press
SOCOM’s controversial head of diversity and inclusion is back in his job
Richard Torres-Estrada has been reinstated following an investigation launched in March.
Austin signals intent to recommend changes to military sexual assault prosecutions
Austin is not ruling out support for removing sexual assault prosecutions from the chain of command.
Former acting SECDEF blames media ‘hysteria’ for his response to Jan. 6 insurrection
Christopher Miller, now a private citizen, made his case before lawmakers.
US defense secretary says Germany is ‘highly valued’ station for American troops
About 34,500 U.S. troops are stationed in Germany, including key American military facilities like the Ramstein Air Base and the headquarters for AFRICOM and EUCOM.
By Staff and wire report
Congress approves waiver for Biden’s pick for defense secretary
President Joe Biden’s pick to lead the Pentagon took a major step closer to confirmation on Thursday, after House and Senate lawmakers voted to waive a rule blocking the recently retired general from assuming the post.
Norquist to serve as acting defense secretary; acting service secretaries named
The three current service comptrollers will serve as acting secretaries as well.
By Aaron Mehta
Exclusive: Esper, on his way out, says he was no yes man
Defense Secretary Mark Esper called Military Times for a lengthy discussion of his time in office.
Esper punctuates WWII commemoration remarks with a warning to China
Defense Secretary Mark Esper finished his Indo-Pacific trip with remarks at the 75th anniversary commemoration of the end of World War II aboard the battleship where it happened.
A U-turn, an angry president and a fateful walk to a church
At an Oval Office meeting late Monday morning, tempers were flaring. Trump and some of his senior aides wanted federal troops on the streets, and fast.
By Robert Burns, The Associated Press
Esper: Pentagon ready for any new wave of coronavirus
Defense Secretary Mark Esper has stressed that the military cannot expect to resume business as usual any time soon.
By Robert Burns, The Associated Press