Follow-aware
A Pentagon spokesman announced that US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, who is suffering from prostate cancer, has delegated his duties to his deputy, hours after he was admitted to the hospital due to an “emergency bladder problem.”
Spokesman Pat Ryder said in a statement, “At approximately 16:55, Secretary Austin transferred the ministry’s duties” to Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks. He added that Hicks is handling Austin’s “missions”, noting that the minister is still receiving treatment and that the White House and Congress have been informed of this.
Hours earlier, the Pentagon said that Austin “went to the hospital with the necessary classified and unclassified communications systems” to perform his duties.
Austin was taken to the hospital again on Sunday, this time due to an “emergency bladder problem,” weeks after his previous admission sparked controversy after he kept it a secret.
2024-02-12 09:25:45