They may have just tested the possibility of military actions without communication with POTUS by having the SecDef disappear for a while.
Don't worry, I'm sure Austin notified OBAMA immediately of his absense.
Add the Woke “indoctrination” to condition the new troops, “Extremism Investigations “Conservative purge” and DEI. Therefore, the quality and loyalty of our military forces can be questionable among the younger recruits (officers and enlisted) along with the senior officers (political) and some of the SNCOs (politicized or DEI selected). I’m sure there are still loyalists to the country, but as the other institutions this one is also being impacted. Our country is changing and not for the betterment of the people.