Department of Defense Press Secretary, Major General Patrick Ryder, told a briefing on Tuesday (January 9) that the Pentagon ''could have done better'' with transparency after the Defense Secretary's secret hospitalization. U.S. President Joe Biden did not learn that his defense secretary, Lloyd Austin, had prostate cancer until Tuesday (January 9), minutes after it was disclosed to the public along with an infection that was also kept under wraps. Austin, who is 70, has been hospitalized since Jan. 1 at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center -- a fact that the Pentagon had kept from the public, the White House and Congress for much of last week, triggering a major political backlash. Austin's own deputy, Kathleen Hicks, was also kept in the dark for days, even after she was told during a vacation in Puerto Rico to assume some of his duties on Jan. 2. Austin and Biden spoke on Saturday and it was unclear why Biden did not learn until Tuesday about Austin's prostate cancer. Austin was taken by ambulance on Jan. 1 to Walter Reed after suffering complications from his Dec. 22 prostate cancer treatment, including nausea with severe abdominal, hip, and leg pain. After he was diagnosed with a urinary tract infection, Austin was moved on Jan. 2 to an intensive care unit. Austin's prostate cancer treatment on Dec. 22 required Austin go under general anesthesia, but he has retained consciousness during his latest visit, according to a statement from Walter Reed. Walter Reed gave an upbeat outlook for Austin but cautioned that his recovery could take time. #pentagon #lloydaustin #patrickryder The New York Post is your source for breaking news, news about New York, sports, business, entertainment, opinion, real estate, culture, fashion, and more. Subscribe to New York Post Sports: https://www.youtube.com/c/nypostsports Catch the latest news here: https://nypost.com/ Follow The New York Post on: Twitter - https://twitter.com/nypost Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/NYPost