According to the Pentagon, symptoms suggesting a "emergent bladder problem" led to Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin's hospitalization on Sunday. All his supervisors understood how to do things this time. According to an official statement from the Pentagon, Austin was taken to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center at around 2:20 p.m. by his security detail, as reported by the AP. Pentagon press secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder said that Austin "is maintaining the powers and duties of his office" and that the deputy defense secretary has been informed and is ready to take over Austin's responsibilities "if necessary."
The White House and a few members of Congress were also informed, in addition to the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. According to Ryder, Austin brought the confidential and unclassified communications equipment he required for work with him when he went to the hospital. The Ukraine contact group, which Austin founded in 2022 to organize military assistance for Kyiv after Russia's invasion, was due to convene in Brussels on Tuesday. A regular meeting of NATO defense ministers was Austin's next planned event. Whether this hospitalization would alter their plans was not immediately apparent.
Austin received a December diagnosis of prostate cancer, and on December 22 he had a prostatectomy to address the condition. He had problems during the following week, and on January 1st, he was brought to Walter Reed by ambulance in excruciating agony and admitted to the critical care unit. Austin stayed on staff at Walter Reed until January 15. Austin withheld his cancer diagnosis and first hospitalization from Congress, President Biden, and his deputy secretary of defense for weeks.
The White House and a few members of Congress were also informed, in addition to the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. According to Ryder, Austin brought the confidential and unclassified communications equipment he required for work with him when he went to the hospital. The Ukraine contact group, which Austin founded in 2022 to organize military assistance for Kyiv after Russia's invasion, was due to convene in Brussels on Tuesday. A regular meeting of NATO defense ministers was Austin's next planned event. Whether this hospitalization would alter their plans was not immediately apparent.
Austin received a December diagnosis of prostate cancer, and on December 22 he had a prostatectomy to address the condition. He had problems during the following week, and on January 1st, he was brought to Walter Reed by ambulance in excruciating agony and admitted to the critical care unit. Austin stayed on staff at Walter Reed until January 15. Austin withheld his cancer diagnosis and first hospitalization from Congress, President Biden, and his deputy secretary of defense for weeks.
