Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin is stripped of his duties after being hospitalized for ’emergent bladder issues’ after prostate caner surgery last month

Lloyd Austin has had his duties relieved and transferred to Deputy Kathleen Hicks after he was hospitalized for “symptoms consistent with an emerging bladder problem.”

The Defense Secretary, 70, was transported to Walter Reed Medical Center on Sunday afternoon after symptoms emerged.

It comes after he faced intense backlash for failing to immediately inform Joe Biden of his surgery to treat prostate cancer last month.

The Secretary of Defense told Hicks, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Charles Brown, Jr., the White House and Congress about his hospitalization.

Later Sunday, the DoD said that “at 4:55 p.m.” Austin transferred the functions and duties of the Office of the Secretary of Defense to the Deputy Secretary of Defense to Hicks.

Later Sunday, the Defense Department announced that Austin transferred the functions and duties of the Office of the Secretary of Defense to Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks (pictured) “at approximately 4:55 p.m.,” adding that the White House and Congress were all had been informed

Hicks has “assumed Austin’s functions and duties as of 5 p.m.,” a spokesperson confirmed

Austin said earlier this month that his failure to immediately notify Biden was partly due to his instinct to keep his health private, and that he was “shocked” by the news of his cancer diagnosis.

At a news conference earlier this month, Austin said he would immediately notify his deputy and the White House Situation Room if he has a medical problem, which appeared to align with his hospital visit on Sunday.

“I have apologized directly to President Biden. I told him I deeply regret not letting him know immediately,” Austin said during a news conference at the Pentagon on February 1.

“I should have told the president about my cancer diagnosis, I should have told my team and the American public as well,” he added. ‘I take full responsibility. I apologize to my teammates and to the American people.”

It was the first time he has spoken publicly about his medical scare and it comes as he tries to recover from the scandal of keeping it a secret.

The health concerns come at a time when the world is embroiled in turmoil, including a war between Ukraine and Russia, between Israel and Hamas and rising tensions between China and Taiwan and Houthis with Yemen’s Sunnis.

Having an absent or incapacitated Secretary of Defense could further complicate the US role in all this.

President Joe Biden, First Lady Dr. Jill Biden and Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin (with walker) stand during a dignified transfer at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware of the bodies of three US troops killed in a drone strike in Jordan last month

DoD Sec. Austin spoke at a press conference at the Pentagon on February 1, where he apologized for not immediately informing President Joe Biden of his prostate cancer diagnosis and surgery last month.

With Austin set to be hospitalized on Sunday, Hicks is “prepared to assume the duties of secretary if necessary.” However, the Secretary of Defense will retain his powers for now, Major General Ryder noted.

Far-right political activist Laura Loomer said Austin should resign from office after successive health problems.

“Time for him to resign,” she posted to X on Sunday. “You can’t be sick and be Secretary of Defense at the same time.”

Writer and podcaster Jake Novak agreed, writing, “Lloyd Austin back in the hospital. President with dementia, chronically ill SecDef. This is the threat to our troops… but the big story is insulting Nikki Haley’s husband?!?’

The retired general said at his press conference this month that his prostate cancer diagnosis was a “gut attack.”

“I was being treated for prostate cancer,” he noted. “The news shocked me and I know it shocks so many others, especially in the black community. It was a punch.”

“Honestly, my first instinct was to keep it private,” the Pentagon chief added. ‘I don’t think it’s news that I’m quite a private man. I don’t like burdening others with my problems.’

‘It’s just not my way. But I learned from this experience that taking on this type of work means losing some of the privacy most of us expect. “The American people have a right to know if their leaders are facing health issues that could affect their ability to perform their duties, even temporarily,” he said.

Major General Ryder’s full statement on Austin’s hospitalization reads:

“Today, at approximately 2:20 p.m., Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III was transported by his security detail to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center to be seen for symptoms indicating an emerging bladder problem. The Deputy Secretary of Defense and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff have been notified. Additionally, there have been reports from the White House and Congress.

“At this time, the Secretary will continue to perform the functions and duties of his office. The Assistant Secretary is prepared to assume the functions and duties of the Secretary of Defense as necessary. Secretary Austin traveled to the hospital with the unclassified and classified communications systems necessary to carry out his duties.

“We will provide an update on Secretary Austin’s condition as soon as possible.”