Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin went to the hospital again on Sunday afternoon. This time, it’s because he’s having problems with his bladder. A Pentagon spokesperson shared this information in a statement.
Deputy secretary takes over
At around 4:55 pm on the same day, Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks took on the responsibilities of the Secretary of Defense. Major General Pat Ryder, the Pentagon press secretary, made this announcement. The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the White House, and Congress were all informed about this change.
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Previous health issues
Earlier, Secretary Austin had surgery for prostate cancer on December 22. After the surgery, he faced complications like a urinary tract infection and serious intestinal problems. He was hospitalized again on January 1, but the White House only found out three days later, causing criticism.
Apology and admission of mistake
Secretary Austin admitted that he should have told the President, his team, and the public about his cancer diagnosis. He took full responsibility for not sharing this information and apologized to his teammates and the American people.
President Biden’s response
President Joe Biden criticized Austin for not informing him sooner about the hospitalization after the cancer procedure. Despite this, Biden expressed confidence in Austin but mentioned it was a mistake in judgment.
Personal reflection on health challenges
Austin spoke personally about how the news of his health issues affected him. He acknowledged that he is a private person and initially wanted to keep it to himself. He apologized to the President and explained that he is sorry for not informing him immediately about his diagnosis.
Ongoing reviews
Currently, there are internal reviews and investigations by the Defense Department inspector general to understand the situation better.
