By Associated Press
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin underwent a medical procedure at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center on Friday night and has resumed his duties after temporarily transferring power to his deputy, the Pentagon press secretary said. Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder, in a statement.
Austin is still dealing with bladder problems that emerged in December after his treatment for prostate cancer, Ryder said.
The procedure was successful, elective and minimally invasive, “unrelated to his cancer diagnosis and has had no effect on his excellent cancer prognosis,” the press secretary said.
Austin transferred authority to Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen Hicks for about two and a half hours while he was indisposed, the Pentagon said.
The head of the Pentagon returned home after the intervention. “No changes are anticipated to his official schedule at this time, to include his participation in the events scheduled for Memorial Day,” Ryder said.
[Recompensa de $25,000 para esclarecer el homicidio de la soldado latina hallada sin vida cerca de su base militar]
Austin, 70, has had ongoing health problems since undergoing surgery to deal with a prostate cancer diagnosis. He spent two weeks in the hospital for complications from a prostatectomy. Austin was criticized at the time for not immediately informing the president, Joe Biden, or Congress of his diagnosis or his hospitalization.
Austin was transferred back to Walter Reed in February for a bladder problem, admitted to intensive care for a second time and underwent a non-surgical intervention under anesthesia general at that time.
The Pentagon notified the White House and Congress on this occasion, Ryder said.
