U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin Hospitalized

WASHINGTON — Protection Secretary Lloyd Austin was hospitalized once more Sunday to deal with a bladder situation as he continues to get well from prostate most cancers and has transferred authorities to his deputy, the Pentagon stated.

Austin was identified with prostate most cancers in December and continues to cope with problems from his therapy.

At about 2:20 p.m. Sunday, he was transported by his safety element to Walter Reed Nationwide Navy Medical Middle “to be seen for signs suggesting an emergent bladder situation,” Pentagon Press Secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder stated in a press release.

Whereas Austin initially supposed to retain the “capabilities and duties of his workplace,” at about 5 p.m. Sunday he transferred these authorities to Deputy Secretary of Protection Kathleen Hicks. As of Sunday night, he remained hospitalized.

A press release from Walter Reed medical officers late Sunday stated Austin was admitted into the essential care unit for supportive care and shut monitoring. Dr. John Maddox, the trauma medical director, and Dr. Gregory Chesnut, director of the Middle for Prostate Illness Analysis of the Murtha Most cancers Middle, stated whereas it was unclear presently how lengthy Austin will stay hospitalized, “the present bladder situation isn’t anticipated to alter his anticipated full restoration.”

The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Employees was notified, in addition to the White Home and Congress.

Austin was scheduled to depart Tuesday for Brussels to carry a gathering of the Ukraine contact group, which he established in 2022 to coordinate army assist for Kyiv after Russia’s invasion. After that, Austin was scheduled to attend a daily assembly of NATO protection ministers.

It was not instantly clear if this hospitalization would change these plans.

Austin was diagnosed with prostate cancer in December and underwent a process referred to as a prostatectomy to deal with it on Dec. 22.

Over the next week, he developed problems and on Jan. 1, in excessive ache, he was taken to Walter Reed by ambulance the place he was admitted to the intensive care unit. Austin remained at Walter Reed till Jan. 15. He then continued to get well and make money working from home, and he returned to the Pentagon Jan. 29.

His medical doctors have beforehand stated his prognosis in opposition to the most cancers is “glorious” and that no additional therapies will likely be wanted.

Austin has gone again to Walter Reed for follow-ups since his hospitalization however that is his first unscheduled journey attributable to continued problems from his most cancers therapies.

Austin didn’t inform President Joe Biden, Congress or his deputy protection secretary of his December most cancers prognosis or preliminary hospitalization for weeks. That secrecy has develop into the topic of an inspector basic investigation and a Pentagon inner assessment. He has beforehand stated he by no means instructed his employees to maintain his hospitalization a secret.