U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin speaks during a meeting with Australian Defense Minister Richard Mars and British Defense Secretary Ben Wallace at the Pentagon in Washington, U.S., December 7, 2022.
Kevin Lamarque | Reuters
Doctors at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center announced Tuesday that Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has been hospitalized since Jan. 1 due to complications following surgery to treat prostate cancer.
The news about Austin’s treatment and condition comes after a tortuous week in which Austin was hospitalized. pentagon He refused to give a reason.
President Joe Biden was not informed of Austin’s prostate cancer diagnosis until Tuesday morning, the White House said.
Doctors at Walter Reed said Austin underwent his first prostate cancer surgery on Dec. 22, during which time he was under general anesthesia.
On January 1st, Austin experienced complications from the surgery, including nausea and severe pain in his abdomen, hip and leg, which was later determined to be a urinary tract infection.
On January 2, he was admitted to Walter Reed’s intensive care unit and treated for intestinal problems.
Mr. Austin, who is sixth in line to the presidency, did not disclose to White House officials that he had been rushed to the hospital until last Thursday, a miscommunication that posed a national security risk. The cause of the hospitalization was unknown until Tuesday’s announcement.
Significant omissions and unanswered questions about Mr. Austin’s delegation of command have shaken confidence in the Pentagon chief on Capitol Hill and led to calls from some lawmakers for his resignation.
Pentagon spokesperson Air Force Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder said in a Tuesday press conference that “Secretary Austin has taken responsibility for the transparency issue, and the Department is taking immediate steps to improve its reporting procedures.” .
As part of this, Austin’s chief of staff has directed Pentagon officials to conduct a “30-day review of the department’s notification process for assuming the duties and duties of the Secretary of Defense,” Ryder added.
Mr. Austin has said he will not resign, and the White House supports him.
Biden expressed support for Austin amid calls for him to resign.
National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said Monday there are no plans to replace Mr. Austin. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Biden maintains “full confidence” in the defense secretary.
Biden and Austin spoke by phone Saturday night and had a “warm conversation,” a senior administration official said.
Austin’s secret hospitalization came at a time when the United States was considering and implementing several major national security measures, including military strikes in the Middle East.
