Pentagon: Defense Secretary Austin is Recovering From a ‘Prostate Cancer’ Infection

Paresh Jadhav

12 months ago

Defense Secretary Austin is recovering from prostate cancer surgery and complications, according to a Pentagon statement. He underwent minimally invasive surgery on 22 December and went home the same day, according to this source.

However, on January 1st he returned to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center without telling legislators or the White House why. This has resulted in calls for him to resign.

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Secretary of Defense Austin was treated for prostate cancer infection

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin recently had unannounced hospital stays due to prostate cancer infection, according to Pentagon officials and doctors. Austin was given a diagnosis with “prostate cancer with an excellent prognosis” by Walter Reed National Military Medical Center’s physicians; on Jan 2, some of his responsibilities were transferred over to deputy secretary Kathleen Hicks while his illness went undetected by Congress or White House until last Friday when Pentagon officials released an announcement detailing how he had been hospitalized following a procedure done late December.

After being shocked by this latest development, the administration is embarking on an immediate policy review. Chief of Staff Jeff Zients issued a memo asking cabinet secretaries for existing protocols on delegating authority in case of incapacitation or loss of communication; simultaneously the Pentagon began reviewing their own procedures; National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby reported at Tuesday briefing that Biden has full trust in Austin being kept on for his remaining term as Secretary.

Austin was treated at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin was hospitalized last month due to complications arising from prostate cancer surgery, according to a Pentagon statement. However, details regarding his condition remained undisclosed to both White House officials and senior cabinet members for three days, prompting criticism over his leadership as well as review of rules regarding cabinet member updates regarding health.

Walter Reed doctors issued a statement to indicate Austin underwent a minimally invasive procedure on Dec 22 to treat and cure his prostate cancer, however upon returning home the following day “he developed nausea with severe abdominal, hip and leg pain,” according to further evaluation revealing a collection of abdominal fluid impedeing small intestine function and being transferred for close monitoring and treatment at their intensive care unit.

On Tuesday, Republicans sent President Biden a letter demanding answers about a communications breakdown between himself and Defense Secretary Jack Austin and congressional lawmakers, along with asking him to testify before Congress about it. A White House spokesman confirmed Biden only became aware of the issue on January 4, and still has confidence in Austin as defense secretary.

Austin was treated for a urinary tract infection

Pentagon officials believe Austin’s prognosis to be good despite an infection. According to Walter Reed doctors, Austin had undergone minimally invasive prostate cancer surgery on December 16; after returning home on January 1, however, he began experiencing nausea along with severe abdominal, hip and leg pain before being readmitted on January 5. They determined he had an infection affecting his small intestine causing fluid accumulation that needed draining via his nasal passageway.

Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder of the Defense Department declined to respond when questioned on why White House and Pentagon officials weren’t informed for days that Austin had been hospitalized, with some Republicans demanding his resignation due to this breakdown in communications.

Zients is currently overseeing a review of Cabinet rules, and has issued a memo instructing agencies to notify him and the White House if any Cabinet member experiences illness or another circumstance that could impede their duties.

Austin was treated for a prostate cancer infection

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin was hospitalized last week due to prostate cancer surgery and an infection related to that procedure, according to doctors on Tuesday. The Pentagon did not publicly announce or notify White House and Congress until Friday due to mounting public pressure for his resignation.

Defense Spokesman Pat Ryder acknowledged it was less-than-ideal for key figures to remain unaware of the situation, yet refused to provide answers about who decided not to inform President Donald Trump, Congress members and top Pentagon officials of what had transpired. Furthermore, he declined to explain whether such decision had been made for security or political considerations.

Walter Reed National Military Medical Center issued a statement detailing an infection which resulted in an accumulation of fluid that blocked small intestine function and caused severe abdominal pain, but said that their patient has made steady progress during their stay and that infection has now gone.