US Defense Minister Lloyd Austin was admitted to an “intensive care” unit after another hospitalization for a bladder problem, the Pentagon announced on Sunday evening.
• Read also: “It was a mistake”: Pentagon chief apologizes for keeping hospitalization secret
• Read also: US Defense Minister returns to Pentagon after hospitalization
Lloyd Austin, whose several secret hospitalizations for prostate cancer have sparked controversy, had been admitted to hospital earlier in the day for “an urgent bladder problem”, before delegating his duties to his assistant.
“This evening, after a series of tests and evaluations, the Secretary was admitted to the intensive care unit at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center for supportive care and close monitoring,” the Pentagon said in a statement. communicated.
“At this time, it is not clear how long Minister Austin will remain hospitalized,” said the press release from Dr. John Maddox and Gregory Chesnut.
“The current bladder problem is not expected to affect his expected full recovery. His prognosis for cancer remains excellent,” add the doctors.
Since 5 p.m. (10 p.m. GMT) on Sunday, Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen Hicks has assumed the role of head of the Pentagon. A few hours earlier, the Pentagon had indicated that Mr. Austin had “gone to the hospital with the classified and unclassified communications systems necessary” to carry out his duties.
The White House and Congress have been informed, assured the Pentagon.
During a press conference on February 1, the Secretary of Defense, 70, apologized for having kept his prostate cancer a secret, a case which caused an uproar in the country.
Because in the middle of an election year and while the United States, the world’s leading military power, is closely following two major conflicts in Ukraine and the Gaza Strip, the septuagenarian was operated on and hospitalized twice in December and January without the President Joe Biden knows nothing about it.
“It was a mistake,” the minister admitted during this press briefing to which he presented himself with a still stiff approach.
“I should have informed the president of my cancer diagnosis. I should have told my team and the American people as well and I take full responsibility for that. I apologize to my colleagues and to the American population,” he added.
The minister, however, wanted to say “very clearly that there was no vacancy of power and (that there was) no risk for the command and control of the ministry”.
He indicated that he had “directly” apologized to Mr. Biden and that the latter had reacted “with grace”.
Astonishment and calls for resignation
The affair had caused astonishment even in the Democratic camp and sparked calls from Republicans for the resignation of Lloyd Austin.
This time, his ministry promptly communicated about his new hospitalization: the media were informed about two hours after his departure for the hospital.
The controversy over his health problems also came at a time when US forces in Iraq and Syria are regularly targeted by attacks by Iranian-backed fighters, according to Washington.
The top US defense official is also a key figure in the Biden administration’s efforts to maintain support for Ukraine in its conflict with Russia, as congressional Republicans refuse to authorize new funding for military aid to Kyiv.
Several Republican parliamentarians called for his dismissal, but Mr. Biden, while deploring the lack of discernment of the head of the Pentagon, declared that he retained his confidence in him.
Mr. Austin gained a reputation as a largely apolitical official, very comfortable with American troops. Of imposing stature, he is very discreet and avoids the limelight, which he believes played a role in his decision to keep his cancer diagnosis a secret.
