Merrick Garland to undergo back surgery 

The Justice Department announced Monday that Attorney General Merrick Garland will undergo back surgery this weekend and will delegate duties to a deputy attorney general during the surgery.

Garland, 71, is scheduled to undergo a “minimally invasive” back surgery on Saturday, which is expected to take about 90 minutes, Justice Department Public Affairs Director Xochitl Hinojosa said in a statement. Shared by The Associated Press. Hinojosa will reportedly be placed under general anesthesia during the surgery.

Garland is scheduled to return home the same day, but will delegate duties to Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco immediately before, during, and immediately after the surgery, according to the report. Mr. Garland is scheduled to return to work the week of February 5th.

The announcement came on the same day that Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin returned to the Pentagon earlier this month after being hospitalized for several weeks.

Austin was hospitalized on January 1st due to an infection associated with prostate cancer surgery he underwent on December 22nd. The Pentagon said Austin “has been performing his duties from home since his release from Walter Reed National Military Medical Center on January 15.”

Mr. Austin’s hospitalization sparked controversy on Capitol Hill after lawmakers learned that the White House and Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks were not informed of his hospitalization until Jan. 4. Mr. Austin did not reveal his prostate cancer diagnosis until January 9, nearly a month after his early diagnosis. He was diagnosed with cancer during a medical checkup in December.

The apparent lack of communication prompted the Pentagon to conduct a 30-day internal review of its policies and procedures.

The Pentagon inspector general has also launched an investigation into the incident, and the White House is reviewing its procedures for how Cabinet members delegate authority.