Lloyd Austin: Defense Secretary resuming 'normal duties' Tuesday

Defense Secretary Austin expected to resume normal duties Tues.

Lloyd Austin was hospitalized Sunday, underwent non-surgical procedure
Defense Secretary was diagnosed with prostate cancer last year
Officials at Walter Reed say his cancer prognosis is 'excellent'

Updated: Feb 12, 2024 / 02:59 PM CST

FILE – Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin makes a joint statement with Israel Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant, after their meeting about Israel’s military operation in Gaza, in Tel Aviv, Israel, Dec. 18, 2023. (AP Photo/ Maya Alleruzzo, File)

(NewsNation) — After undergoing non-surgical procedures to address a bladder issue, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin is expected to “resume his normal duties” Tuesday.

“The current bladder issue is not expected to change his anticipated full recovery,” a statement from officials at Walter Reed Military Medical Center said.

Austin had been taken to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center on Sunday afternoon. This follows another hospital stay in January for an infection stemming from a Dec. 22 surgery for prostate cancer.

The statement from Reed medical officials said Austin’s cancer prognosis “remains excellent.”

His initial hospital stay raised questions when it was revealed that President Joe Biden and other top officials weren’t informed about it for days. At a recent press briefing, Austin acknowledged that he “did not handle this right.”

In the aftermath, new procedures have been implemented to prevent future lapses in notification. There’s also an ongoing internal Pentagon review and inspector general review into the department’s notification procedures. Some members of Congress have called for hearings on the matter.

At a Pentagon press briefing, Maj. Gen. Patrick Ryder said the White House was told that Austin was being hospitalized before he left for Walter Reed, and congressional notifications were made as well. Defense Secretary duties had been transferred to Deputy Secretary Kathleen Hicks on Sunday evening.

Ryder told reporters that Austin will no longer travel to Brussels as he was scheduled to this week. NewsNation reports the defense secretary was going to meet with NATO ministers and work on Ukraine military aid. Going in his stead will be Celeste Wallander, assistant secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs.

A Ukraine defense contact group meeting will continue virtually, and Austin is set to participate Wednesday, though Ryder noted he will remain “flexible” depending on his health status.

Ryder declined to comment on whether the bladder issues Austin faced over the weekend were related to his cancer diagnosis.

This story is developing. Refresh for updates.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.