Four days after it emerged that the US Secretary of Defense, Lloyd Austin, had been hospitalized since January 1, flouting the transparency protocol by not even informing the White House, the Pentagon military hospital has revealed the reason: He underwent surgery for prostate cancer on December 22 and had to return to the hospital on January 1 due to complications arising from the operation.
In a statement that aims to end the controversy over Pentagon secrecy, the Walter Reed Military Medical Center explains the medical and chronological details. In early December, Austin, 70, attended a routine prostate checkup, during which doctors discovered cancer that required treatment. On December 22, he underwent a “minimally invasive” surgical procedure under general anesthesia to treat the cancer, a prostatectomy, doctors John Maddox and Gregory Chesnut explain in the statement.
A few days later, on January 1, he was admitted to the hospital again with “complications arising from December 22, including nausea with severe abdominal, hip and leg pain.” The initial evaluation determined that the cause was a urinary tract infection, which is why she was transferred the next day to an intensive care unit, where she has received “a higher level of care.”
The medical team has confirmed that the Pentagon chief is making a positive recovery, but has not given any date for his discharge. “He has progressed steadily during his stay. He continues to progress and we hope that he makes a full recovery, although it may be a slow process,” reads the statement, which ensures that “during his stay, Secretary Austin never lost consciousness.”
The revelation comes after a week in which criticism of Austin’s secrecy has caused a minor crisis in the US government. Even some of the Pentagon men closest to the Secretary of Defense did not learn of his delicate situation until January 2, a day after his hospitalization. President Joe Biden and National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan were informed of the hospitalization on the 4th, just before the controversy broke out. The next day, the Pentagon informed Congress and published a first statement addressed to the media.
Until this Tuesday morning, Biden did not know the reason for the hospitalization. “No one at the White House knew that Secretary Austin had prostate cancer until this morning, and he was informed immediately afterwards,” Homeland Security spokesman John Kirby said at a press briefing this afternoon.
Faced with the avalanche of criticism, the Department of Defense has come forward to explain: “we recognize the understandable concern expressed by the public, Congress and the media in terms of notification periods and transparency of the Department of Defense. I want to emphasize, a again, that Secretary Austin is transparently taking responsibility for the issues and the department is taking immediate action,” said Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder.
The health of the second position in the country’s military ranks, only behind the commander in chief, President Biden, is considered a matter of state, which Austin treated as part of his private life. His secrecy has damaged the Administration’s image and raised questions about the reporting relationship between the White House and the Pentagon.
“When our allies are at war in Eastern Europe and in Israel, for the leader of the US military to be away from work for several days and the president does not know it is a dereliction of duty,” former Vice President Mike denounced on CNN. Pence, “the secretary and the Administration must step forward and explain the facts to the citizens.”
This Monday it was stated that since Austin resumed his duties on the night of the 5th, he has been receiving operational information and providing the necessary guidance. He continues to oversee Department of Defense operations around the world and is in contact with his team.
This event has caused Casa Blanca to announce that information protocols on the health status of senior officials will be reviewed.
A prostatectomy “is surgery to remove the entire prostate gland and surrounding lymph nodes to treat men with localized prostate cancer,” explains the Mayo Clinic.