US Defense Secretary hospitalized again

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin was hospitalized with bladder-related symptoms, the Pentagon announced. Pentagon press secretary Major General Pat Ryder said security personnel took Austin to the hospital around 2:20 p.m. on February 11.

Mr. Ryder noted that Mr. Austin remains on duty for now and Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks is available to take over if called upon.

US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin. (Photo: AP)

The White House and Congress , as well as several other Pentagon officials, including the Deputy Secretary of Defense and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, have been informed of Mr. Austin's hospitalization.

Mr. Austin was previously diagnosed with prostate cancer in early December 2023 and treated at Walter Reed in late December. He had to return to the hospital on New Year's Day 2024 after reporting complications from surgery.

However, at that time, the Pentagon admitted that it had failed to notify President Joe Biden's administration and the public about Mr. Austin's hospitalization.

The US defense secretary’s hospitalization without informing President Joe Biden and other senior administration officials for days has raised major questions about transparency in the administration. Republicans have criticized the Pentagon’s handling of information about Austin’s illness, and the defense secretary is scheduled to testify before the House Armed Services Committee later this month about the issue.

On February 1, in his first press conference since being hospitalized, Mr. Austin admitted that the way he handled the situation when he had to be hospitalized for treatment was lacking.

“We did not handle this properly. I should have informed the President about my cancer diagnosis. I should have also communicated with my team and the American public. I take full responsibility. I apologize to my colleagues and to the American people,” the Pentagon chief said.

Kong Anh (Source: CNN)

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