Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin was released from Walter Reed National Military Medical Center on Tuesday afternoon after a two-day stint for a bladder matter.
He was released around 3:30 p.m. and resumed his duties, which he temporarily signed over to Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks, at 5 p.m., according to the Pentagon. They notified Congress, the Joint Staff, and the White House of his resumption of duties.
The secretary was diagnosed with prostate cancer in early December and underwent treatment for it on Dec. 22. He then experienced complications days later and was transported by ambulance to Walter Reed on Jan. 1, where he stayed for two weeks and spent time in the intensive care unit.
Austin was hospitalized on Sunday for an “emergent bladder issue,” according to his doctors. His health scare was separate and unrelated to the complications he suffered from prostate cancer treatment that landed him in the hospital in January, they said.
“The bladder issue was not related to his cancer diagnosis and will have no effect on his excellent cancer prognosis,” Austin’s doctors, Dr. John Maddox and Dr. Gregory Chesnut, said in a statement.
He was admitted to the hospital after experiencing discomfort and concern from a previous bladder issue and he feared it was related to his January health problems. After tests, doctors were able to identify the cause of the issue and correct it with nonsurgical procedures on Monday, according to the doctors.
Austin, per their advice, will work remotely before returning to work at the Pentagon later this week.
The dayslong delay in notifying the White House, Congress, and public of Austin’s first hospitalization sparked criticism and policy changes.
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The White House was not informed Austin was in the hospital until Jan. 4, while Congress and the public were informed on Jan. 5. He was hospitalized from Jan. 1 through Jan. 15, though he did not inform President Joe Biden of his cancer diagnosis until Jan. 9.
Austin’s secrecy, which he has since apologized for, has led to policy changes regarding the transfer of authorities from Cabinet officials to deputies and an inspector general investigation. Those changes were on display following Austin’s second hospitalization, which was announced that day.
