Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin has been readmitted to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center due to a bladder issue, following his hospitalization in January for prostate cancer.
In a joint statement, Dr. John Maddox, trauma medical director, and Dr. Gregory Chesnut, director of the center for prostate disease research at the Murtha Cancer Center, reassured that Austin's current condition is not expected to hinder his recovery from cancer. "A prolonged hospital stay is not anticipated. We anticipate the Secretary will be able to resume his normal duties tomorrow. The current bladder issue is not expected to change his anticipated full recovery. His cancer prognosis remains excellent," they said.
Pentagon Press Secretary Air Force Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder disclosed during a Department of Defense (DOD) press conference that Austin was rushed to the hospital on Sunday afternoon by his security detail after experiencing symptoms related to an emergent bladder issue. Ryder further stated that Austin was admitted into the hospital's critical care unit for medical attention and is currently undergoing various tests.
The media release reported that both the White House and Congress were informed about Austin’s hospitalization on Sunday by defense officials. Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks has assumed Austin’s responsibilities as secretary while he remains in the hospital. This follows criticism directed at Austin in January for failing to notify President Joe Biden about his previous hospital stay due to prostate cancer. Despite this controversy, Biden insisted he would not dismiss Austin over this oversight.
Austin expressed gratitude towards the staff at Walter Reed and acknowledged concerns regarding transparency in a statement about his health situation: "I want to thank the amazing doctors and nursing staff at Walter Reed for the exceptional care they have delivered to me and for the personal warmth they have shown my family," he said. "I also appreciate all the outreach and well wishes from colleagues and friends... I am very glad to be on the mend and look forward to returning to the Pentagon soon... I also understand the media concerns about transparency and I recognize I could have done a better job ensuring the public was appropriately informed. I commit to doing better... this was my medical procedure, and I take full responsibility for my decisions about disclosure."
