Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, who was readmitted to hospital on Sunday afternoon, has been transferred to a critical care unit, according to an update from the Pentagon on Feb. 11.
Officials at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center said in a statement that Mr. Austin, who had earlier been admitted to the hospital for an “emergent bladder issue,” needed “supportive care and close monitoring” in the military hospital’s critical care unit.
The decision was made following a series of tests and evaluations on Mr. Austin’s condition.
Mr. Austin was transported to Walter Reed by his security detail and admitted at around 2:20 p.m. due to his bladder symptoms, according to an initial announcement on the secretary’s hospitalization by Pentagon press secretary, Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder.
He added that the deputy secretary of defense and the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff had been notified of the hospitalization, following earlier criticism that Mr. Austin had kept secret a hospitalization he had undergone in December.
Mr. Austin revealed in January that he had been diagnosed with prostate cancer the previous month. This health update came only after he was hospitalized for a urinary tract infection, which followed surgical complications from a procedure that required general anesthesia.
The secretary later took full responsibility for the lack of timely notification but said he had no plans to resign. The White House said it was not considering firing Mr. Austin over the incident.
White House Notified
Gen. Ryder said on Sunday that the White House and members of Congress had also been notified of the secretary’s condition.
“The Deputy Secretary is prepared to assume the functions and duties of the Secretary of Defense if required,” he said. “Secretary Austin traveled to the hospital with the unclassified and classified communications systems necessary to perform his duties.”
Two hours later, Gen. Ryder released a second update, announcing that Mr. Austin had transferred his duties to his deputy.
“At approximately 4:55 pm today, Secretary Austin transferred the functions and duties of the office of the Secretary of Defense to Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks,” he said. “The Deputy Secretary of Defense has assumed the functions and duties.”
The doctors at Walter Reed said in the latest update that they expect Mr. Austin to make a full recovery.
“At this time, it is not clear how long Secretary Austin will remain hospitalized,” they said. “The current bladder issue is not expected to change his anticipated full recovery. His cancer prognosis remains excellent. Updates on the Secretary’s condition will be provided as soon as possible.”
He is scheduled to testify at a House Armed Services Committee hearing on Feb. 29 regarding his failure to communicate about an earlier hospitalization and for delegating critical national security powers without informing the White House or Congress for several days.
Ryan Morgan contributed to this report.
“At approximately 4:55 pm today, Secretary Austin transferred the functions and duties of the office of the Secretary of Defense to Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks,” he said. “The Deputy Secretary of Defense has assumed the functions and duties.”
With “Steady at the ready” Joe Biden as Commander in Chief, and Incontinent cancerous correct skin colored Austin medically unable to fulfill the duties of Secretary of Defense, I’m Sure all Americans are feeling secure and safe from our enemies, now that a strong unelected or Congressional approved woman is now in Charge of our national defense. I’ll just bet she has the sweetest smelling hair that ever went under Joe Biden’ nose, which is probably what got her elevated, with no need how to wade into the enemy and spill their guts, but apparently people sans guts are now running the country. Something tells me we are cutting out the wrong cancer from the wrong people, for the wrong reasons. Just how incompetent can the people and situations get before someone gets fired by Joe, or Joe gets fired by Us and we return Fort Fumble back to Fortress America.
Yes, it certainly helps me sleep at night to know we have such professional people running the defense of our country. What could possibly go wrong with the Three Stooges running the show?
Wasn’t Curly later replaced by a guy named Curly Joe” Both sure can hit the ground and spin. Yuk Yuk Yuk fits Biden to a tee, and describes our current three stooges of Joe, Hunter and His Brother.
NOTHING.. He won’t fire a single one. INCOMPETENCE IS THEIR calling card.
The more we learn about the Joe Biden Adaministration the more this rule applies,,” For Thee, But Not For Me.” D.O.J.
And then we hear that democrat president, Joe Biden has signed up for Chineese Communist-Tik-Tok, Could this be ( A Trojan Horse, ) inside the walls.?
Wasn’t there a law passed banning tik tok from all government devices? And the deadline to remove it has passed. Oops, sorry, I forgot. Bidet is above the law
THE ENTIRE DNC Is above the law… Didn’t you get the memo? IT ONLY Applies to we the plebs and serfs of society…
Well said!
Austin is clearly having serious health issues. He should offer to step down to take care of his health and Biden should select someone else who is both healthy and more competent – but Biden only focuses on the “diversity” aspect when making important selections. (Kamala Harris, Karine Jean -Pierre, etc.) This president is so clueless that the decisions he makes often end in disaster and he is left wondering why and takes it out on his staff.
The only decision Uncle Joe is making is his choice of ice cream. His Puppet Master is making ALL the Biden Administrations decisions!
AND if it shanks the US over, that’s the decision they make, 99.999% of the time.