Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin is back at Walter Reed Hospital due to an “emergency bladder issue,” Pentagon officials said.
Pentagon spokesman Maj. Gen. Patrick S. Rider confirmed that Austin was hospitalized at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center and that the deputy secretary of defense, the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the White House, and Congress had all been notified. added.
Mr. Ryder said in a statement that Mr. Austin was transported by security to Walter Reed at approximately 2:20 p.m. Sunday, adding that Mr. Austin was maintaining the office’s functions and duties.
“The Deputy Secretary stands ready to assume the duties and duties of the Secretary of Defense as appropriate,” the statement said. “Secretary Austin traveled to the hospital with unclassified and classified communications systems necessary to carry out his duties.”
Congressman slams Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin over secret hospitalization
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin remains hospitalized, nearly two weeks after he was hospitalized due to complications from prostate cancer surgery, Pentagon officials confirmed Saturday. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
Austin was scheduled to depart Joint Base Andrews on Tuesday morning and head to Brussels for Wednesday’s Ukraine Defense Liaison Group and Thursday’s NATO Defense Ministers’ Meeting.
It is too early to tell whether Austin will be able to travel, a senior US defense official said, adding that Austin’s doctors were assessing his condition.
In December, Austin was admitted to Walter Reed Hospital and underwent surgery for prostate cancer. A week later she developed an infection and she was readmitted to the hospital.
Defense Department Austin apologizes directly to Biden over hospitalization controversy: “We were not able to handle it appropriately.”
ARLINGTON, VA – JUNE 23: U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin participates in a meeting with Italian Defense Minister Guido Crossetto at the Pentagon on June 23, 2023 in Arlington, Virginia. The two military leaders discussed continued defense partnership and continued cooperation in support of Ukraine. ((Photo credit: Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images))
President Biden et al. Government officials were not informed of his hospitalization or cancer for several days.
Even though Walter Reed was hospitalized on January 1st, the Pentagon did not notify the public, the press, or Congress until January 5th.
White House establishes Cabinet notification guidelines following Austin hospitalization controversy
File – Department of Defense in Washington, March 27, 2008. The Pentagon plans to install solar panels on the Pentagon as part of the Biden administration’s plan to promote energy conservation and clean energy. The Department of Defense is one of 31 government facilities receiving grants from the Department of Energy program, which the administration says aims to “reestablish the federal government as a leader in sustainability” and The aim is to promote President Biden’s clean energy efforts. (AP Photo/Charles Dalapak, File) (AP Photo/Charles Dalapak, File)
Officials also acknowledged that the White House was not informed of Austin’s hospitalization until January 4.
Austin said on February 1 that he directly apologized to President Biden for not notifying him in advance about his hospitalization for prostate cancer treatment.
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“I want to be clear: We did not take care of this right, and I didn’t take care of this right,” Austin said at a Feb. 1 press conference regarding his last hospitalization. “I should have told the president about my cancer diagnosis. I should have told my team and the American people. I take full responsibility. I apologize to my teammates and the American people.”
