The Pentagon introduced Sunday that Protection Secretary Lloyd J. Austin III had been taken to a army hospital to be handled for “signs suggesting an rising bladder downside,” and hospital docs later mentioned that it was not clear how lengthy he must keep there. .
Mr. Austin was taken to the Walter Reed Nationwide Navy Medical Middle in Bethesda, Md., at 2:20 p.m., a spokesman for the Pentagon, Main Gen. Patrick S. Ryder, mentioned within the army's preliminary assertion. He added that the deputy protection secretary and the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Workers have been notified, in addition to the White Home and members of Congress.
In a second assertion Sunday night, Common Ryder mentioned Mr. Austin, 70, had “transferred the duties and duties” of his workplace to the deputy protection secretary, Kathleen H. Hicks, at about 4:55 p.m. p.m.
One other assertion, issued late Sunday by two senior docs at Walter Reed, mentioned Mr. Austin had been admitted to the hospital's essential care unit that evening after a sequence of checks. The docs, John Maddox and Gregory Chesnut, mentioned it was unclear how lengthy he could be hospitalized.
Final month, Mr. Austin spent a number of days at Walter Reed being handled for issues associated to current prostate most cancers surgical procedure. Docs mentioned of their assertion on Sunday that his bladder downside “isn’t anticipated to vary his anticipated full restoration” and that his most cancers prognosis remained glorious.
The bulletins gave the impression to be aimed toward exhibiting transparency across the medical situation of Mr. Austin and emphasised the truth that a number of excessive officers within the American authorities have been knowledgeable.
Mr. Austin got here beneath widespread criticism final month after initially protecting his go to to the hospital a secret from prime administration officers, together with President Biden, the White Home nationwide safety adviser, the secretary of state and senior officers within the Pentagon, together with these instantly beneath him. the workplace
Mr. Austin had not but knowledgeable the President that he had undergone the unique surgical procedure in December.
Lawmakers have requested the Pentagon to supply solutions as to why so many officers have been stored at the hours of darkness. Mr. Biden mentioned on January 12 that he nonetheless had confidence in Mr. Austin. However when the president was requested if it had been a lapse of judgment for Mr. Austin to not have knowledgeable him that he had been out of fee, Mr. Biden mentioned “sure.”
Mr. Austin, a retired four-star Military basic and former commander of US Central Command, had served within the army for greater than 40 years when he took over the Pentagon's prime job in 2021. In his complete profession, he tried to keep away from it. consideration and tried to maintain many components of his life out of the general public highlight.
Mike Ives contributed report.
