Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin was hospitalized Sunday following symptoms pointing to an “emergent bladder issue,” the Pentagon said. In a statement, the Pentagon said Austin was transported by his security detail to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center around 2:20 p.m. He “is retaining the functions and duties of his office,” according to Pentagon press secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder, who added that the deputy secretary of defense, Kathleen Hicks, has been notified and is prepared to assume Austin’s duties “if required.”
Quick Read
- Hospitalization of Defense Secretary: Lloyd Austin was admitted to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center due to an emergent bladder issue.
- Pentagon Statement: Despite hospitalization, Austin retains his official functions, with Deputy Secretary Kathleen Hicks on standby to assume duties if necessary.
- Notifications: Key figures including the Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman, the White House, and some Congress members were informed about Austin’s condition.
- Communications Systems: Austin has access to necessary communication systems to perform his duties from the hospital.
- Upcoming Travel Uncertainty: Austin’s planned trip to Brussels for a Ukraine contact group meeting and a NATO defense ministers meeting may be affected by his hospitalization.
- Health Background: Austin was diagnosed with prostate cancer in December and underwent surgery, leading to complications and a previous ICU stay.
- Prognosis and Follow-Ups: Austin’s prognosis is reportedly excellent, with no further cancer treatments needed, but he has had follow-up visits since his December hospitalization.
- Secrecy Concerns: Austin’s initial secrecy about his cancer diagnosis and treatment has prompted investigations and an internal Pentagon review.
The Associated Press has the story:
Austin hospitalized with bladder issue, but ‘retaining functions’ of office
Newslooks- WASHINGTON (AP) —
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin was hospitalized Sunday following symptoms pointing to an “emergent bladder issue,” the Pentagon said. In a statement, the Pentagon said Austin was transported by his security detail to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center around 2:20 p.m. He “is retaining the functions and duties of his office,” according to Pentagon press secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder, who added that the deputy secretary of defense, Kathleen Hicks, has been notified and is prepared to assume Austin’s duties “if required.”
The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff was also notified, as well as the White House and some members of Congress.
Ryder said Austin traveled to the hospital with the unclassified and classified communications systems needed to perform his job.
Austin was scheduled to depart Tuesday for Brussels to hold a meeting of the Ukraine contact group, which he established in 2022 to coordinate military support for Kyiv after Russia’s invasion. After that, Austin was scheduled to attend a regular meeting of NATO defense ministers. It was not immediately clear if this hospitalization would change those plans.
Austin was diagnosed with prostate cancer in December and underwent a procedure called a prostatectomy to treat it on Dec. 22.
Over the next week, he developed complications and on Jan. 1, in extreme pain, he was taken to Walter Reed by ambulance where he was admitted to the intensive care unit. Austin remained at Walter Reed until Jan. 15. He then continued to recover and work from home, and he returned to the Pentagon Jan. 29.
His doctors have previously said his prognosis against the cancer is “excellent” and that no further treatments will be needed.
Austin has gone back to Walter Reed for follow-ups since his hospitalization but this is his first unscheduled trip due to continued complications from his cancer treatments.
Austin did not tell President Joe Biden, Congress or his deputy defense secretary of his cancer diagnosis or initial hospitalization for weeks. That secrecy has become the subject of an inspector general investigation and a Pentagon internal review. He has previously said he never instructed his staff to keep his hospitalization a secret.
