The Department of Defense notified Congress, the White House, and the public on Sunday that Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin was transported with Walter Reed National Military Medical Center for an “emergent bladder issue” earlier in the day.
This is Austin’s second hospitalization this year after undergoing surgery to treat prostate cancer in late December. His first hospitalization at Walter Reed, which began on Jan. 1 and he was released on Jan. 15, was marked by secrecy. Austin has since apologized for how he handled his cancer diagnosis and subsequent hospitalization.
Dr. John Maddox and Dr. Gregory Chesnut, Austin’s doctors, said in a statement on Sunday night that he was brought in to Walter Reed “for symptoms suggesting an emergent bladder issue,” adding, “Tonight, after a series of tests and evaluations, the Secretary was admitted into the critical care unit at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center for supportive care and close monitoring.”
The doctors acknowledged it is unclear how long Austin will remain hospitalized, though they noted, “The current bladder issue is not expected to change his anticipated full recovery.”
Shortly before 5 p.m. on Sunday, Austin transferred the functions and duties of the secretary of defense to his deputy, Kathleen Hicks, Pentagon spokesman Maj. Gen. Patrick Ryder said in a statement, adding that the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the White House, and Congress were notified of it.
Austin was diagnosed with prostate cancer in early December, had a procedure to treat it on Dec. 22, and was brought back to Walter Reed on Jan. 1 via ambulance due to complications. He transferred authorities to Hicks on Jan. 2, but the White House was not informed of Austin’s hospitalization until Jan. 4, and Congress and the public were not notified until Jan. 5.
Austin and other DOD officials acknowledged they should have been more forthcoming with Austin’s health status, while the department and White House have made policy changes to avoid similar scenarios from happening again, hence the department informing the White House, Congress, and the public on the same day as Austin’s hospitalization this time around.
“I was being treated for prostate cancer,” Austin said in early February. “The news shook me, and I know that it shakes so many others, especially in the black community. It was a gut punch, and frankly, my first instinct was to keep it private. I don’t think it’s news that I’m a pretty private guy. I never like burdening others with my problems. It’s just not my way. But I’ve learned from this experience.”
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Austin was scheduled to travel to Brussels this week for the latest meeting of the Ukraine contact group, which he created in 2022 to coordinate military support for Ukraine after Russia’s invasion, but he will no longer do that, a Pentagon official told the Washington Examiner. After that, Austin was scheduled to attend a regular meeting of NATO defense ministers.
He also agreed to testify in front of the House Armed Services Committee later this month about his January hospitalization.
