Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin was taken to the hospital on Sunday for “symptoms suggesting an emergent bladder issue,” weeks after a separate hospital stay sparked concern over transparency from the Pentagon.
Austin was transported to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center at 2:20 p.m. EST, and the White House, Congress, and other Department of Defense officials were notified, according to Pentagon press secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder.
“Secretary Austin traveled to the hospital with the unclassified and classified communications systems necessary to perform his duties,” Ryder said in a statement.
The Pentagon originally said Austin had maintained the duties of his post and that they would provide updates on Austin’s condition as they became available. At about 7:30 p.m., the Pentagon said that just before 5 p.m., Austin transferred the functions and duties of his office to Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks.
Dr. John Maddox and Dr. Gregory Chesnut of Walter Reed released a statement late Sunday, saying that “after a series of tests and evaluations,” Austin was admitted to the critical care unit “for supportive care and close monitoring.” They said it was not clear how long the secretary would need to remain hospitalized.
However, his “current bladder issue is not expected to change his anticipated full recovery. His cancer prognosis remains excellent,” the specialists continued, before adding that they would provide further updates as soon as they could.
Austin’s hospital trip comes a month after he had an extended hospital stay due to complications in treating prostate cancer. The two-week hospitalization in January caused uproar after many officials within the Pentagon, the White House, Congress, and the public were not notified of his hospitalization for days.
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During his last hospital stay, Austin temporarily gave up some of his authority to Hicks.
Austin is scheduled to testify about his January hospitalization and the fallout from it before the House Armed Services Committee on Feb. 29.
