## Pentagon Secretary Lloyd Austin Hospitalized Due to Bladder Problem
The Pentagon announced on February 12, 2024, that Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin was admitted to the hospital due to an emergency bladder problem. He has delegated his duties to his deputy, Kathleen Hicks.
Pentagon spokesman Pat Ryder stated, “At 16:55, Secretary Austin transferred the department’s duties to Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks, who will assume Austin’s duties. The Secretary is still receiving treatment and the White House and Congress have been notified of this.”
The Pentagon clarified that Austin brought his classified and unclassified communications systems to the hospital and remains actively engaged in his duties despite his absence.
Austin’s hospitalization comes after he missed several events in late December and early January due to complications from a prostate procedure on December 22nd. His cancer diagnosis and hospitalization were initially kept secret from President Joe Biden. The Pentagon eventually announced his hospitalization two hours later.
Austin previously apologized for being criticized for his first secret hospitalization, admitting that he should have informed the president about his cancer diagnosis. He claimed he was recovering and experiencing leg pain during that time.