Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin to Resume His Duties Tuesday

Paresh Jadhav

10 months ago

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin will resume his duties Tuesday despite having undergone an emergency non-surgical bladder procedure at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center on Sunday after experiencing symptoms related to an emergent bladder issue, the Pentagon reports. Hicks has taken over his duties; and both White House and Congress were informed, according to Ryder.

Defense Secretary Austin to return to work Tuesday after hospitalization

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Doctors Say Lloyd Will Make a Quick Recovery

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin will resume his duties Tuesday following non-surgical procedures to treat bladder issues, according to a Pentagon press release. According to them, this issue does not pose any threat to his “anticipated full recovery” from prostate cancer treatment.

This month, US Defense Secretary Ash Carter was hospitalized for two weeks following surgery for prostate cancer and contracted an urinary tract infection that prevented him from informing both the White House and Congress about his health status for days – prompting congressional inquiry and an internal Pentagon review into notifications procedures.

Kathleen Hicks assumed control for part of this week, with Hicks anticipated to resume her duties by Friday. Ryder noted that Lloyd Austin still plans on traveling to Brussels this week for NATO defense minister meetings and the Ukraine Defense Contact Group virtual meeting, where US Ambassador to NATO Julie Smith will represent her department at this virtual gathering.

Doctors Say He Will Resume His Duties Tuesday

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin was scheduled to resume his normal duties on Tuesday, one day after doctors transferred his powers and responsibilities to Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks. Pentagon Spokesman Maj. Gen. Patrick Ryder announced he is expected to make a full recovery from a bladder condition.

Ryder insisted that this medical issue does not relate to his cancer surgery on December 22 and does not expect a prolonged hospital stay.

Lloyd announced he has postponed his travel plans for the Ukraine Defense Contact Group meeting taking place this week, opting instead to participate virtually via assistant secretary of defense for international security affairs Celeste Wallander representing him at the meeting, while Chair of the Joint Chiefs Gen CQ Brown Jr will represent Pentagon at this gathering.

Initial disclosure failure by the Pentagon of his hospitalization led to criticism from Republican leaders, leading them to alter how Cabinet secretaries inform their bosses when they cannot perform their duties. It triggered both an internal review by the department’s inspector general as well as an inquiry by the White House.

Doctors Say He Will Not Travel to Brussels

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin will no longer make his trip to Brussels this week for NATO meetings and gatherings with Ukraine allies, after two hospitalizations within a month. Instead, his deputy secretary will participate virtually and represent him directly at both events.

Early Wednesday, the Pentagon confirmed that Austin retained his functions and duties of his office; however, they have been transferred to Kathleen Hicks, deputy secretary of defense. She will take charge of these meetings starting Tuesday. According to their statement, this transfer has also been informed to White House, Joint Chiefs of Staff and Congress.

The Pentagon declined to reveal the nature of the 70-year-old’s medical issue; however, in a statement it stated he underwent nonsurgical procedures under general anesthesia for bladder issues not expected to change his cancer prognosis and resume normal duties without interruption; his “cancer prognosis remains excellent.” His hospital stay had previously caused public uproar due to complications arising from prostate cancer surgery that were kept secret, prompting investigations.

Doctors Say He Will Virtually Attend a Critical Meeting on Ukraine

Defense officials announced Monday, in Lloyd Austin’s first public appearance since his initial hospitalization, that he is expected to return “in the near future” and has delegated authority for his operations to Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks.

The Pentagon has cancelled their trip to Brussels for meetings with NATO defense ministers and Ukraine Defense Contact Group members, yet plans still include participating in virtual meetings of both entities, according to Major General Pat Ryder at the Defense Department press office. He stated that this virtual meeting will be led by Assistant Secretary for International Security Affairs Celeste Wallander; however, these plans can change depending on Austin’s health status.

At 70, this year saw Dr. Carter hospitalized for two weeks due to prostate cancer surgery and subsequent secrecy about it, sparking congressional criticism and prompting changes to Pentagon notification guidelines. When released he apologized profusely and returned to oversee four service component commands, one unified command, and two subordinate unified command groups within his role of defense secretary.