Pentagon Chief Lloyd Austin Hospitalized Again

The U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin has been relocated to the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. He exhibited symptoms consistent with bladder issues, according to Pentagon spokesperson Patrick Ryder. This marks the secretary's second hospitalization this year, as he was diagnosed with prostate cancer in December.

According to Ryder's statement, the secretary "maintains his duties and continues to fulfill his responsibilities." The hospitalization has been reported to Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Charles Brown, the White House, and Congress. The deputy secretary is prepared to assume the responsibilities of the director if needed.

This year's earlier hospitalization of Lloyd Austin sparked controversy in the U.S. He was admitted to a medical facility on January 1, but the Pentagon kept the public informed only a few days later. According to Politico, the department did not disclose the secretary's illness to either the White House or Congress. It was later revealed that Mr. Austin had been diagnosed with prostate cancer in December. He has apologized to President Joe Biden and the public for withholding the information. He was discharged from the hospital on January 15, and returned to work on January 29.

Lloyd Austin is 70 years old and assumed the role of Pentagon chief in January 2021, becoming the first African American to hold this position.