Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin hospitalized again with 'emergency issue,' weeks after cancer treatment



Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin was transported to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center on Sunday afternoon. Austin was exhibiting symptoms of an "emergent bladder issue," according to the Pentagon.

"Today, at approximately 2:20 pm, Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III was transported by his security detail to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center to be seen for symptoms suggesting an emergent bladder issue," the Pentagon said in a press release. "The Deputy Secretary of Defense and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff have been notified. Additionally, White House and Congressional notifications have occurred."

Pentagon Press Secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder initially said Austin would retain his duties as secretary of defense while in the hospital. However, Ryder said on Sunday night that Austin had "transferred the functions and duties of the office" to Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks.

Austin is scheduled to make his first overseas trip since his initial hospitalization this week.

Austin was scheduled to depart on Tuesday for Brussels to hold a meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group. Austin was also scheduled to attend a regular meeting of NATO defense ministers.

It was not clear if those plans were canceled because of the hospitalization.

Sunday's announcement came just weeks after his first hospitalization.

Austin previously underwent a surgical procedure for prostate cancer on Dec. 22. However, he suffered from a urinary tract infection and serious intestinal complications.

Austin was hospitalized on Jan. 1, but President Joe Biden was unaware of the concerning medical situation for three days.

Austin had transferred his authority to his deputy the day after he was admitted to the hospital.

The secrecy of Austin's hospitalization was widely criticized.

Austin returned to in-person work at the Pentagon at the end of January.

"We did not handle this right and I did not handle this right," Austin admitted during a press conference earlier this month.

"I should have told the president about my cancer diagnosis," he added. "I should have also told my team and the American public, and I take full responsibility."

Austin defended himself by saying he is a "pretty private guy."

"I never like burdening others with my problems," he said. "It's just not my way."

Austin said he directly apologized to President Biden for not informing his administration about his hospitalization, and he was "deeply sorry."

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Lloyd Austin aide made unusual — and telling — request in 911 call before secret ICU hospitalization



The scandal of Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin's ICU hospitalization cover-up took another turn on Tuesday.

Audio of the 911 call that one of Lloyd's aides made requesting an ambulance to the secretary's northern Virginia home suggests that aides intentionally tried to keep the hospitalization a secret. The Daily Beast first reported the audio, obtaining it through a Freedom of Information Act request.

The call, made on Jan. 1, begins with the aide identifying himself before informing the dispatcher that he works for Secretary Austin. The aide then made an unusual request.

"Can I ask — can the ambulance not show up with lights and sirens? We're trying to remain a little subtle," the aide said.

The dispatcher replied, "Usually, when they turn into a residential neighborhood they'll turn them off, but they're required by law to run with them [on] the main streets ... primary roads, they have to by law."

— (@)

The majority of the call is redacted to protect private and confidential information, such as the name of the aide, personal contact information, Austin's address, and the reason that Austin had requested to go to the hospital. At one point, the aide asked if it would be possible to transport Austin to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center.

The call ends with the dispatcher providing the aide with instructions to prepare for the arrival of medics.

The hospitalization set off controversy because, as it was later discovered, not only did the Pentagon hide Austin's hospitalization from practically everyone — including President Joe Biden — for days while claiming he was working remotely, but the Pentagon did not disclose that Austin underwent surgery days before Christmas.

It's still not clear who decided to cover up Austin's health problems or if anyone has been held responsible.

Austin was finally released from the hospital on Monday.

"The secretary continues to recover well and, on the advice of doctors, will recuperate and perform his duties remotely for a period of time before returning full-time to the Pentagon," the Pentagon said in a statement. "He has full access to required secure communications capabilities."

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'Heads have to roll': Outrage grows over Lloyd Austin hospitalization cover-up — but Biden won't fire him



Someone is likely to lose their job at the Pentagon over the shocking scandal involving Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin's secret ICU hospitalization, but that person won't be the secretary.

Austin was hospitalized in the ICU at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center last Monday with serious complications following an elective medical procedure before Christmas. The Pentagon has not released details about the procedure or the complications.

But instead of informing President Joe Biden, senior members of the government, Congress, the Pentagon press corps, or even Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks — who, while on vacation in Puerto Rico, assumed partial responsibility for Austin's duties while unaware that he was hospitalized — about the secretary's hospitalization, Austin's staff told everyone that Austin was working remotely.

The scandal has resulted in outrage over the shocking lack of transparency and what appears to be outright deception regarding the health of a senior member of the Cabinet.

Politico reported Sunday that there is growing pressure for someone, anyone, to lose their job over the scandal.

"Someone's head has to roll," a Pentagon official told the outlet.

A former senior Defense Department official agreed, explaining, "Not telling the [White House], Congress or the media he is sick, and then telling Pentagon staff he is working from home is next level. This is a problem. Someone made the decision not to disclose. That person will likely be gone shortly."

"Heads have to roll," said Brett Bruen, a former diplomat who worked in the Obama administration. "This is not a minor miscommunication. It’s about the confidence that our national security structure has in its leadership and that the leadership is acting in a transparent way."

However, that person will not be Austin.

The White House confirmed on Monday that Biden is not considering firing Austin.

"The president is not considering replacing Secretary Austin," a White House official said. "The president continues to have full trust and confidence in the secretary."

Another official, moreover, told Politico that even if Austin were to offer his resignation, Biden would not accept it.

White House spokesperson John Kirby, meanwhile, downplayed the significance of the incident during a press gaggle on Monday, telling reporters the administration will review protocol for Cabinet officials notifying the White House of health problems.

"As you might expect, we’ll take a look at process and procedure here and try to learn from this experience," he said. "If there’s changes that need to be made in terms of process and procedure, we’ll do that."

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Alarming details surface on Lloyd Austin's ICU hospitalization, Biden's White House kept in the dark: 'Shocking breakdown'



News surfaced on Friday that U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin had been hospitalized since Jan. 1. While the press was kept in the dark that Austin had been hospitalized, it is now reported that President Joe Biden was also unaware of the concerning medical situation. A noteworthy Republican has described the incident as a "shocking breakdown."

Alarming new details emerged on Saturday regarding Austin's sudden hospitalization.

The Pentagon did not inform President Biden and other top officials in his administration – including National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan – about Austin's hospitalization for three days, three U.S. officials reportedly told Politico.

Austin was admitted to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center on Monday evening after "complications following a recent elective medical procedure." Pentagon officials did not reveal what procedure Austin had, what the complications were, or how serious the medical situation was.

Sullivan allegedly told Biden about Austin's situation shortly after the Department of Defense made the announcement on Thursday.

A White House official told USA Today that Biden and Austin spoke on Saturday evening.

"It was a warm conversation," the official stated. "The president has complete confidence in Secretary Austin and is looking forward to him being back in the Pentagon."

Austin spent four days in the intensive care unit, two senior administration officials told NBC News.

While he was in the hospital, Austin's duties were partially assumed by Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks.

However, Hicks was on pre-scheduled vacation in Puerto Rico at the time, according to a defense official.

The official said that Hicks "has maintained full communication with the DOD staff throughout," and added, "She has monitored DOD’s day-to-day operations and conducted some routine business."

The stunning lack of communication has been slammed by the press and government officials.

The Pentagon Press Association called the lack of transparency an "outrage."

"The fact that he has been at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center for four days and the Pentagon is only now alerting the public late on a Friday evening is an outrage," the Pentagon Press Association said on Friday. "The public has a right to know when U.S. Cabinet members are hospitalized, under anesthesia or when duties are delegated as the result of any medical procedure."

Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) – a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee – released a statement on Saturday declaring the situation a "shocking breakdown."

"Secretary Austin must address promptly the troubling report that the Department of Defense didn’t immediately notify President Biden or the National Security Council that he was hospitalized and unable to perform his duties," Cotton declared. "The Secretary of Defense is the key link in the chain of command between the president and the uniformed military, including the nuclear chain of command, when the weightiest of decisions must be made in minutes."

"If this report is true, there must be consequences for this shocking breakdown," Cotton concluded.

Chuck Hagel – a former senator who served as defense secretary during the Obama administration – chimed in by saying, "The NSC is part of your team, it’s part of the family. The president has to know where his Cabinet members are at all times."

An anonymous U.S. official told Politico, "This should not have happened this way."

Department of Defense spokesperson Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder said that the hospitalization was kept from the media due to "medical and personal privacy issues."

On Saturday, Austin addressed the backlash of keeping his hospitalization a secret.

"I am very glad to be on the mend and look forward to returning to the Pentagon soon," Austin began.

"I also understand the media concerns about transparency and I recognize I could have done a better job ensuring the public was appropriately informed," he continued. "I commit to doing better. But this is important to say: this was my medical procedure, and I take full responsibility for my decisions about disclosure."

The NSC and Pentagon declined to comment on the situation.

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