Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin is currently undergoing treatment for prostate cancer, his doctors announced Tuesday, after it was revealed last week the Pentagon chief did not inform the White House of his recent days-long stay in the hospital.
Diagnosed with prostate cancer early last month, Austin was admitted to the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Md., on December 22 for a prostatectomy surgery. Austin was then readmitted on January 1 and diagnosed with a urinary tract infection after complaining of severe nausea and lower-body pain, according to the Pentagon.
“We anticipate a full recovery,” the Pentagon said in a statement. “During this stay, Secretary Austin never lost consciousness and never underwent general anesthesia.”
Big new update from Secretary Austin’s doctors, who say that Austin was diagnosed with and treated for prostate cancer. in December, which led to an infection which he was treated at Walter Reed for last week: pic.twitter.com/mjlvjYnx7g
— Natasha Bertrand (@NatashaBertrand) January 9, 2024
The Pentagon revealed on Friday that Austin had been hospitalized since last Monday, which President Joe Biden was not notified of until Thursday afternoon. The Defense Department kept the cabinet official’s absence internal until then, leading some lawmakers to call for his resignation in recent days.
While Biden does not intend to fire Austin for the lack of communication, the White House is reviewing protocols and procedures in the event that a cabinet secretary must delegate duties because they are incapacitated. In a memo released Tuesday, White House chief of staff Jeff Zients said agencies are required to inform the Office of Cabinet Affairs and the chief of staff if officials need to delegate their responsibilities to someone else while absent. Written notification is required in that case.
News of Austin’s medical condition broke shortly after the memo was issued.
“[Austin] has taken responsibility, and so I think that’s important. So I would point you to that,” White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters on Monday. “And I would just reiterate that the president has complete confidence, continues to have confidence in Secretary Austin, and . . . I think the number one thing right now is for him, we want to see him back at the Pentagon.”
The Pentagon ordered a separate review on Monday to ensure clarity and transparency in determining the circumstances concerning Austin’s hospitalization and his transfer of authority to deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks, who was also not made immediately aware of his condition.