US Protection Secretary Lloyd Austin takes questions throughout a press convention on the Pentagon in Washington, DC, on February 1, 2024.Â
Andrew Caballero-reynolds | Afp | Getty Photos
Protection Secretary Lloyd Austin was taken again to the hospital on Sunday afternoon for signs associated to a doable bladder concern, the Pentagon introduced.
Austin is battling prostate most cancers and has been recovering from surgical procedure over the previous few months.
He’s at the moment retaining all tasks of his put up, the Pentagon stated. On his solution to Walter Reed Nationwide Army Medical Middle, Austin introduced alongside all “unclassified and categorised communication programs essential to carry out his duties,” based on Pentagon Press Secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder.
Deputy Protection Secretary Kathleen Hicks is on standby to imagine any of Austin’s features, ought to that turn into essential.
The Pentagon made clear that the White Home and Congress have been notified of the Sunday hospitalization, avoiding a repeat of a December incident when Austin and his employees failed to tell prime authorities officers that Austin was within the intensive care unit for issues associated to his most cancers surgical procedure.
In January, Austin got here beneath fireplace after the Pentagon waited days to tell the White Home and the general public that he was within the ICU for unknown causes on the time. Medical doctors at Walter Reed later disclosed the prostate most cancers analysis and launched particulars of his hospital visits.
Nonetheless, a number of lawmakers referred to as on Austin to resign for the dearth of transparency, although the White Home rebuked these calls for and doubled down on its assist for the Protection Secretary as he battles most cancers.
Austin’s re-hospitalization on Sunday comes simply over every week after he publicly apologized for hiding that earlier hospital go to and pledged to be extra clear.
“We didn’t deal with this proper. And I didn’t deal with this proper. I ought to have instructed the president about my most cancers analysis. I ought to have additionally instructed my staff and the American public, and I take full duty,” Austin stated at a Pentagon briefing.
