U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin has been hospitalized once again for a bladder condition while recovering from treatment for prostate cancer. He was transported to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center at around 2:20 p.m. on Sunday, according to Pentagon Press Secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder.
Pursuant to regular protocol, Austin handed over power to Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks on Sunday evening, as he remained hospitalized and was admitted to the critical care unit for supportive care and surveillance.
Walter Reed medical officials, including Dr. John Maddox and Dr. Gregory Chesnut, issued a statement yesterday, saying, Austin “underwent non-surgical procedures under general anesthesia to address his bladder issue . . . . We anticipate a successful recovery and will closely monitor him overnight.”
The doctors asserted that he is unlikely to need an extended stay at the hospital and would be allowed to return to work today, “a prolonged hospital stay” not being anticipated.
The top defense official was scheduled to leave for Brussels on Tuesday for a meeting of the Ukraine contact group, which was formed in 2022 to coordinate military support for Kyiv. He was then scheduled to attend the NATO defense ministers’ regular meeting. As of now, it is unknown whether his treatment will impact those plans.
Austin was diagnosed with prostate cancer, one of the most common cancers among American men, in late December and underwent a prostatectomy. He was re-admitted to Walter Reed on January 1 due to complications where he stayed until January 15. After returning to work, Austin continued to face problems, adding to the ambiguity surrounding his health.
He had not revealed his health issues for several days to the White House, prompting an inspector general probe and internal review at the Pentagon, but Austin has asserted that he never instructed his staff to keep his illness a secret.