Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin released from hospital

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin was released from Walter Reed National Military Medical Center Tuesday, ending a brief admission that began on Sunday.

Austin is “well and resumed his full functions and duties Tuesday evening at 5 p.m.,” a statement from the Pentagon read.

Austin was admitted to Walter Reed on Sunday, due to “a bladder issue related to his December 2023 prostate cancer surgery.” Doctors said Austin’s bladder issues weren’t related to his cancer diagnosis and won’t affect his prognosis.

His latest hospitalization — and its disclosure — followed a stay in January where the White House, and the public, was kept in the dark for days. Austin checked into the hospital on Jan. 1 but failed to inform President Joe Biden and other top officials for three days. Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks assumed some of Austin’s duties on Jan. 2, and national security adviser Jake Sullivan and other senior White House aides were unaware of Austin’s hospitalization until the Defense Department notified them on Jan. 4.

For his recent hospitalization, Austin handed his official duties to Hicks on Sunday, according to the Pentagon press secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder. The Deputy Secretary of Defense, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the White House and Congress have all been notified of Austin’s release Tuesday, the Pentagon said.

Doctors advised Austin to perform his duties from home while recovering, before returning to the Pentagon later in the week. While working remote, Austin has “full access to the unclassified and classified communications systems,” to fulfill his obligations.