Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin Hospitalized Again, Pentagon Says

Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin has been readmitted to hospital, the Pentagon said on Sunday afternoon.

Pentagon Press Secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder gave an update on the defense leader’s condition, saying that the hospital admission had occurred early Sunday afternoon.

“Today, at approximately 2:20 pm, Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III was transported by his security detail to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center to be seen for symptoms suggesting an emergent bladder issue,” he said.

Following criticism over an earlier hospitalization that was kept a secret from the public and even the White House, the press secretary said that the deputy secretary of Defense and the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff had been notified of this admission.

Secretary Austin then revealed that he had received a prostate cancer diagnosis in January after experiencing complications with a urinary tract infection following surgery.

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The update also said that as of Sunday evening, the secretary “is retaining the functions and duties of his office.”

“The Deputy Secretary is prepared to assume the functions and duties of the Secretary of Defense if required,” the statement from Mr. Ryder said. “Secretary Austin traveled to the hospital with the unclassified and classified communications systems necessary to perform his duties.

“We will provide an update on Secretary Austin’s condition as soon as possible.”