Biden defence chief Lloyd Austin hospitalised once more | EUROtoday

Sign up for the day by day Inside Washington e-mail for unique US protection and evaluation despatched to your inbox

Get our free Inside Washington e-mail

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin was hospitalised on Sunday for what officers mentioned gave the impression to be an “emerging bladder issue”.

“Today, at approximately 2:20 pm, Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin Ill was transported by his security detail to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center to be seen for symptoms suggesting an emergent bladder issue. 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,” mentioned a Pentagon spokesman, Pat Ryder.

“At this time, the Secretary is retaining the functions and duties of his office. The Deputy Secretary is prepared to assume the functions and duties of the Secretary of Defense, if required. Secretary Austin traveled to the hospital with the unclassified and classified communications systems necessary to perform his duties,” Maj Gen Ryder continued. “We will provide an update on Secretary Austin’s condition as soon as possible.”

The Pentagon chief’s hospitalisation is his second in simply two months. In January, he underwent surgical procedure to deal with prostate most cancers at Walter Reed, a course of which sparked controversy all through Washington after it was revealed that the White House had been at the hours of darkness concerning the situation of a Cabinet secretary — notably the defence chief at a time of nice instability all through the Middle East.

Mr Austin apologised for that breakdown of communication later in January at a press convention after his return to duties. The Independent has reached out to the White House National Security Council for additional touch upon his latest hospitalisation.

It wasn’t clear on Sunday whether or not Mr Austin’s newest hospitalisation was immediately linked to his prior remedy for prostate most cancers.