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  • Austin, 70, returned to the hospital after complications arose from prostate cancer surgery
  • He was admitted in January for the same reason but failed to disclose his visit
  • The defense secretary transferred his duties to Kathleen Hicks the same day he was hospitalized

U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin was released from the hospital after being admitted for a bladder issue, marking his second visit this year.

In a statement Tuesday, the U.S. Department of Defense said Austin, 70, had been released at around 3:30 pm and was ‘recovering well.’

He was admitted to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center on February 11, reporting discomfort from a bladder issue related to his December 2023 prostate cancer surgery.

Following monitoring by the critical care team and supportive care, the issue was corrected using non-surgical procedures the following day.

‘He remained in good condition throughout and no longer needed critical care monitoring on the morning of Feb. 13,’ doctors John Maddox and Gregory Chesnut said in a joint statement.

U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin was released from the hospital Tuesday after he underwent treatment for discomfort and concern resulting from a bladder issue 

Austin, 70, was treated at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland

The 70-year-old transferred his duties to Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks the same day he was hospitalized

The 70-year-old transferred his duties to Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks the same day he was hospitalized

Maddox is the hospital’s trauma medical director, while Chesnut serves as director of the Center for Prostate Disease Research at the Murtha Medical Center.

‘(Austin) progressed well and was discharged to his home today. He is anticipated to continue his full recovery,’ the doctors said.

The secretary of defense resumed his full duties at 5 pm and will work from home on the advice of his doctors. He is expected to return to in-person work later this week.

For the time being, he will have ‘full access to the unclassified and classified communications systems necessary to perform his duties,’ officials said.

Austin transferred his duties to Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks the same day he was hospitalized.

Hicks, the White House, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and Congress were all notified of his release.

Last month, Austin was hit with criticism when he failed to notify the White House and Pentagon officials about another hospitalization.

The defense secretary was admitted to Walter Reed on January 1 after complications arose following a procedure to treat his prostate cancer, which was also previously undisclosed. 

Austin visited Walter Reed last month after complications arose following a procedure to treat his previously undisclosed prostate cancer

Austin visited Walter Reed last month after complications arose following a procedure to treat his previously undisclosed prostate cancer

The defense secretary apologized 'to (his) teammates and to the American people' during a February 1 news conference

The defense secretary apologized ‘to (his) teammates and to the American people’ during a February 1 news conference

Austin was diagnosed with cancer in December and underwent a prostatectomy to treat it at the end of the month. 

President Biden and Hicks were not informed of January’s visit until three days into his hospital stay.

‘I should have told the president about my cancer diagnosis. I should have also told my team and the American public, and I take full responsibility,’ Austin said at a press conference earlier this month.

‘I apologize to my teammates and to the American people.’

Austin has agreed to testify before the House Armed Services Committee to answer questions about his delay in informing officials about January’s hospital stay.

A hearing is scheduled for February 29. 

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This post first appeared on Daily mail