Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has been discharged from Walter Reed National Military Medical Center after a short admission that commenced on Sunday. A Pentagon statement affirmed that Austin is “well and resumed his full functions and duties Tuesday evening at 5 p.m.”
Austin’s hospitalization was prompted by “a bladder issue related to his December 2023 prostate cancer surgery.” Medical professionals clarified that the bladder problems were unrelated to his cancer treatment and would not impact his prognosis.
This recent hospital stay follows a previous incident in January, during which Austin failed to promptly inform President Joe Biden and other top officials about his admission. Austin checked into the hospital on Jan. 1 but didn’t disclose it until three days later. Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks assumed some of Austin’s duties during that period.
In this latest hospitalization, Austin temporarily delegated his official responsibilities to Hicks on Sunday, and the Deputy Secretary of Defense, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the White House, and Congress were all notified of his release on Tuesday.
While advised by doctors to work remotely during his recovery, Austin has full access to both unclassified and classified communication systems, allowing him to fulfill his obligations from home. He is expected to return to the Pentagon later this week.
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