(RepublicanPress.org) – Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has been in the crosshairs with conservative and liberal lawmakers alike after reports emerged indicating that he failed to report his recent hospitalization to the administration officials as required. He agreed to testify before the House Armed Services Committee before the end of February. However, he was hospitalized — yet again.
On February 11, Pentagon Press Secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder issued a brief press release announcing that Austin’s security detail transported him to Walter Reed National Military Hospital at approximately 2:20 p.m. local time. The notice said he exhibited symptoms that suggested he had an “emergent bladder issue.”
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin was taken to the hospital for a bladder issue, the Defense Department said.
He transferred his duties to Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen Hicks.
The White House, Joint Chiefs and Congress have been notified. https://t.co/qFDu78q4Fx
— MSNBC (@MSNBC) February 12, 2024
The statement confirmed that this time around, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the White House, and Congress were given proper notification of Austin’s hospitalization. Austin also transferred his duties over to Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen Hicks.
A few hours later, Ryder issued another statement informing the public that the defense secretary remained hospitalized for treatment. He also advised that Austin temporarily transferred the duties and functions of his office to Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen Hicks. He concluded his remarks by confirming that Congress and the White House had been notified of the transfer.
Later that day, the Defense Department issued a statement discussing Austin’s health status. The statement was released by Walter Reed Trauma Medical Director Dr. John Maddox and Dr. Gregory Chesnut, the head of the facility’s Center for Prostate Disease Research. Austin’s previous hospital stay was related to complications from prostate cancer surgery performed on Austin in late 2023.
The doctors said hospital officials transferred Austin to the medical facility’s critical care unit as they conducted a series of tests and evaluations on the Defense Secretary. Maddox and Chestnut noted that they didn’t expect Austin’s current bladder issue to affect his “anticipated full recovery” from cancer. On February 13, the Pentagon announced that Austin had been released from the hospital and would be resuming his work remotely before heading back to the Pentagon later in the week.
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