U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin will temporarily delegate his responsibilities on Friday to undergo a non-surgical procedure related to a previously reported bladder issue, the Pentagon announced.
Austin has decided that he will not be able to carry out his duties during the minimally invasive procedure, and Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen Hicks will assume his responsibilities, according to a Pentagon statement.
The Pentagon clarified that the bladder issue is unrelated to the secretary’s prostate cancer diagnosis and has not affected his positive cancer prognosis. Both the White House and Congress have been informed, the statement added.
In February, Austin was hospitalized to address the bladder issue, following a surgery he underwent in December for prostate cancer treatment.
The secretary faced criticism after not disclosing his surgery to the White House, as well as a subsequent hospitalization in January due to complications from the surgery.
President Joe Biden was reportedly unaware of Austin’s hospitalization until days later, causing a political controversy.
