Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin underwent a “scheduled, elective, minimally invasive” nonsurgical procedure Friday night at Walter Reed Medical Center as a follow-up to a bladder problem he had earlier this year, he said. the Pentagon in a statement.
The procedure was unrelated to Austin's cancer diagnosis.
“During this period [Friday], Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks assumed the functions and duties of the Secretary of Defense and served as Acting Secretary of Defense. “Secretary Austin subsequently resumed his duties as Secretary of Defense at 8:25 p.m. ET and returned home,” Pentagon Press Secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder stated in a statement Friday evening. .
The Pentagon said the White House and Congress had been notified and that Austin would be temporarily unable to perform his duties during the procedure.
LLOYD AUSTIN WAS QUESTIONED ABOUT THE LACK OF TRANSPARENCY
The Pentagon said Friday that Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin will undergo a nonsurgical procedure overnight. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
Austin was diagnosed with prostate cancer and was hospitalized in December and January, where he underwent two surgeries, but he did not tell the White House for several days at the time. It took even longer for the public to discover it.
WHITE HOUSE ESTABLISHES GUIDELINES FOR CABINET NOTIFICATIONS FOLLOWING AUSTIN HOSPITALIZATION CONTROVERSY
Secretary of Defense Austin will transfer power to Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks, who will serve as acting secretary of defense. (Alex Wong/Getty Images)
The situation generated criticism for the lack of transparency of the Pentagon and the White House established a new set of guidelines for when chiefs of staff cannot do their jobs and have to delegate authority at the end of January.
Some Republicans, including former President Trump, had called on Austin to resign.
Trump said on Truth Social in January that the Defense Secretary “should be fired immediately for professional misconduct and dereliction of duty. He's been missing for a week and no one, including his boss, corrupt Joe Biden, had any idea.” who was”. where he was he or he could be.”
The White House said Austin maintained Biden's “full confidence” and in February the defense secretary apologized for his lack of transparency.
President Biden said Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin still had his “full confidence” after some Republicans called for his firing or resignation earlier this year. (Demetrius Freeman/The Washington Post via Getty Images/Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
“I want to be very clear: We did not handle this well,” he said at the time. “And I didn't handle this correctly. I should have told the president about my cancer diagnosis. I should have also told my team and the American public, and I take full responsibility. I apologize to my teammates and the American people.”
Austin was hospitalized again on Feb. 11 for a bladder problem weeks after returning to work following his hospitalization for cancer treatment.
The Pentagon added Friday: “As highlighted in a Feb. 13 Department of Defense news release, the secretary's bladder problem is not related to his cancer diagnosis and has had no effect on his excellent prognosis for cancer. Notifications have been made to the White House and Congress.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
An update will be given following procedure, according to the statement.
