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Protection Secretary Lloyd Austin has been taken to Walter Reed Nationwide Navy Medical Middle for signs “suggesting an emergent bladder situation,” and administration officers have been notified, the Pentagon stated Sunday.
The speedy notification of Austin’s go to to the hospital – the primary assertion from the Pentagon was launched inside three hours – got here after the protection secretary acknowledged failures in notifying the administration and the general public about his earlier hospitalization.
Austin was taken by his safety element to the hospital at roughly 2:20 p.m. ET Sunday, Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder, the Pentagon press secretary, stated in a press release. At this level, Austin has not been admitted to the hospital.
The White Home and Congress have been notified of the hospital go to, as have the deputy protection secretary and the chairman of the joint chiefs of employees.
“We are going to present an replace on Secretary Austin’s situation as quickly as attainable,” Ryder stated.
As of now, Austin retains the duties of his workplace, Ryder stated, although Deputy Protection Secretary Kathleen Hicks is able to assume the duties if required. Austin traveled to the hospital with unclassified and labeled communications techniques which can be required for his duties.
Austin was diagnosed with prostate cancer in early December and underwent a process to deal with the most cancers on December 22. That process required basic anesthesia and an in a single day keep at Walter Reed.
He then returned to the hospital on New 12 months’s Day after affected by issues on account of the process.
Austin’s unannounced hospitalization, which was not disclosed to the media or President Joe Biden and different senior administration officers for days, raised main questions on transparency inside the administration. Republicans have been extremely vital of how the Pentagon dealt with Austin’s sickness, and the protection secretary is scheduled to testify to the Home Armed Companies Committee on the finish of the month about his failure to inform key authorities leaders.
Austin remained within the hospital for 2 weeks, then labored from dwelling for one more two weeks as he continued his restoration.
On February 1, in his first information convention since his hospitalization, Austin acknowledged that his dealing with of the prognosis and the hospitalization was a mistake.
“We didn’t deal with this proper, and I didn’t deal with this proper. I ought to have informed the president about my most cancers prognosis. I ought to have additionally informed my crew and the American public. And I take full accountability. I apologize to my teammates and to the American individuals,” Austin stated.
Final week, the Workplace of the Secretary of Protection accomplished a 30-day overview of the notification procedures round a switch of duties.
At a information briefing Thursday, Ryder stated Austin has obtained the overview and is reviewing it. Ryder additionally stated a lot of the overview is assessed, however the Pentagon would attempt to make public as a lot as attainable.
“We stay dedicated to being as clear as attainable concerning the overview, and we’ll have extra data as soon as the secretary’s overview is full,” Ryder stated.
This story has been up to date with further particulars.