American Defense Minister Lloyd Austin will be released on Tuesday from the hospital in the suburbs of Washington where he was admitted on Sunday for a bladder problem, the Pentagon announced.
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Lloyd Austin, whose state of health is being scrutinized after several recent hospitalizations kept secret for prostate cancer, is doing “well” and his release from the hospital is expected during the day on Tuesday, said a spokesperson for the Pentagon, Sabrina Singh.
The Pentagon will communicate again on Tuesday to inform of the effective exit of Mr. Austin and his resumption of functions, she said.
Since Sunday 10:00 p.m. GMT, his deputy Kathleen Hicks has assumed the role of head of the Pentagon.
Mr Austin, 70, was admitted to an intensive care unit that day and underwent a procedure there under general anesthesia. According to his doctors, this bladder problem should not influence the prognosis for treatment of his cancer which “remains excellent”.
The White House and Congress had been well informed of the minister’s state of health before his hospitalization, according to Pentagon spokesperson Pat Ryder.
The failure of Lloyd Austin and the Pentagon to inform the public or President Biden of two hospitalizations in December and January led to widespread criticism. On February 1, the Minister of Defense apologized.
