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The DOJ announced Attorney General Merrick Garland will temporarily delegate his duties to the deputy AG while he undergoes back surgery this weekend.

Garland will become the second high-profile member of the Biden administration to hand over his post for medical reasons in as many months.

The announcement arrives just as Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin returns to work at the Pentagon following a roughly month-long hospitalization that was initially kept secret from the American people, as well as the president.

Garland, according to the announcement, will be placed under general anesthesia during the back procedure scheduled for Saturday.

Surgery, which is to treat spinal stenosis – a narrowing of spaces in vertebrae – is meant to last about 90 minutes and will be ‘minimally invasive,’ according to Justice’s director of public affairs.

Attorney General Merrick B. Garland will temporarily delegate his duties to the deputy AG while he undergoes back surgery this weekend

Attorney General Merrick B. Garland will temporarily delegate his duties to the deputy AG while he undergoes back surgery this weekend

resident Joe Biden receives the Presidential Daily Briefing, Monday, Jan. 29, 2024, in the White House Situation Room at the White House in Washington, as Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin listens

resident Joe Biden receives the Presidential Daily Briefing, Monday, Jan. 29, 2024, in the White House Situation Room at the White House in Washington, as Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin listens

The Attorney General, 71, is expected to return home the same day.

Shortly before, during and for a short time after the procedure, Garland will delegate his duties to Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco.

He is expected to return to work the week of February 5.

When Garland went in for a routine medical procedure in 2022, his office also informed the public a week in advance and outlined how long he was expected to be out and when he would return to work. 

The White House confirmed DOJ informed them of Garland’s the plans to delegate his duties.

DOJ was likely under heightened pressure to inform the public following the chaos that erupted when it was revealed that Defense Secretary Austin was in the hospital for complications that occurred following a prostate cancer treatment, about which he had informed almost no one.

One day after a fatal drone strike targeting the US military in the Middle East, Austin was back at the Pentagon following a nearly month-long absence.

He underwent a surgical procedure for the cancer on December 22 and was released, but was then admitted to intensive care days later after experiencing extreme pain.

His extended stay created mass confusion, including among the band of deputies who should have assumed his responsibilities but had themselves not been forewarned of the situation.

Austin’s lack of disclosure prompted two ongoing reviews as well as changes in federal guidelines to ensure the White House will be informed any time a Cabinet head isn’t able to carry out their job. 

On Monday, Austin did not acknowledge the communications failure, but said: ‘I feel good and am recovering well, but still recovering, and I appreciate all the good wishes that I have received thus far.’ 

‘At this important time, I’m glad to be back at the Pentagon,’ Austin said at the top of a meeting with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg.

Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco will assume Garland's responsibilities for a short time before, during, and after his surrgery

Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco will assume Garland’s responsibilities for a short time before, during, and after his surrgery

Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, where Lloyd Austin was for nearly a month

Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, where Lloyd Austin was for nearly a month

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin was back at work at the Pentagon for the first time since his December surgery for a procedure he did not disclose to the White House in advance. He attended a meeting with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg at the Pentagon Monday

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin was back at work at the Pentagon for the first time since his December surgery for a procedure he did not disclose to the White House in advance. He attended a meeting with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg at the Pentagon Monday

Austin made no mention of the work from home controversy that infuriated top officials and caused changes in federal policies. 

He was last in the Pentagon December 21, and had surgery for prostate cancer December 22 – in an episode that left the White House unaware of his location and publicly calling him out for failing to disclose the situation.

He had emergency surgery at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center following complications from his earlier procedure. That resulted in a two week hospital stay, and revelations that he hadn’t told the White House about his cancer diagnosis or his procedure. He also didn’t tell President Biden or congressional leaders.

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This post first appeared on Daily mail