Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, 70, will return to work on Tuesday after undergoing “non-surgical procedures” following an emergency admission to hospital for bladder problems on Sunday.
Austin was taken to Walter Reed Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland on Sunday afternoon with symptoms related to bladder problems and was transferred to the intensive care unit the same night while his duties were transferred to his deputy Kathleen Hicks.
He had to cancel an upcoming trip to Brussels to meet with colleagues from other NATO countries because he was being treated at the military hospital.
The DoD secretary’s every move has been released to the public after Austin faced intense backlash for failing to inform Biden of his hospitalization and surgery for prostate cancer last month.
Now, less than a month later, Austin is back in the hospital.
Austin has notified the White House of his latest hospitalization but has not yet spoken to the president, according to Pentagon press secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder.
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, 70, is expected to return to work on Tuesday after handing over his duties to Deputy Kathleen Hicks on Sunday following a hospital admission for ‘symptoms consistent with an emerging bladder problem’
Austin underwent “non-surgical procedures” under general anesthesia on Monday, according to his doctors at Walter Reed Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland
“Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III underwent non-surgical procedures under general anesthesia to address his bladder problem,” Austin doctors wrote in a statement Monday. “We expect a successful recovery and will monitor him closely tonight.”
“A prolonged hospital stay is not expected,” added Drs. John Maddox, medical director of trauma, and Dr. Gregory Chesnut, director of the Center for Prostate Disease Research. “We expect the secretary to resume his normal duties tomorrow.”
‘The current bladder problem is not expected to alter his expected full recovery. His cancer prognosis remains excellent.’
Austin was taken to Walter Reed on Sunday for “symptoms consistent with an ongoing bladder problem.”
Later that same evening, Austin was admitted to the intensive care unit for “supportive care and close monitoring” and handed over his duties as DoD secretary to his deputy Kathleen Hicks.
Later on Sunday, the Department of Defense announced that Austin had transferred the functions and duties of the Office of the Secretary of Defense to Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks.
Austin was due to leave for NATO meetings with defense ministers in Brussels and a separate meeting with allies on continued support for Ukraine in its conflict with Russia.
A US official told Reuters on Monday that the meeting in Ukraine would take place virtually, but confirmed that Austin would no longer attend the meetings with NATO allies.
Austin was admitted to the intensive care unit “after a series of tests and evaluations,” according to a hospital official.
‘The current bladder problem is not expected to alter his expected full recovery. His cancer prognosis remains excellent,” said Dr. John Maddox said in a statement.
Earlier Sunday, it was announced that Austin had been stripped of his duties and transferred to Deputy Kathleen Hicks.
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 Defense Department said Austin transferred the functions and duties of the Secretary of Defense’s office to his deputy, Kathleen Hicks, at 4:55 p.m.
Hicks “took over Austin’s functions and duties effective Sunday at 5 p.m.,” a spokesperson confirmed.
The frequent and immediate updates come amid criticism that Austin kept his hospitalization and cancer surgery a secret last month — even hiding it from the president.
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.
During a news conference earlier this month, Austin said he would immediately notify his deputy and the White House Situation Room if he has additional medical issues, 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 from the Pentagon podium 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.”
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.
The press conference marked the first time Austin has spoken publicly about his medical scare and comes as he tries to recover from the scandal of keeping it secret.
The health concerns come at a time when the world is embroiled in turmoil, including a war between Ukraine and Russia and Israel and Hamas, as well as 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.
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.